Youth in Tanzania are demonstrating the vital role young leaders play in paving the way for sustainable peace.

Since Tanzania’s independence in 1961, the education system in Tanzania has undergone multiple transformations based on political and economic changes and now faces a number of challenges in issues related to teen pregnancy, gender inequality, and youth unemployment. In commemoration of the 2020 International Day of Education, Global Peace Foundation (GPF) and partners organized a youth dialogue comprising of teachers and students from a local university and secondary schools, as well as education stakeholders, media personnel, parents, and education analysts to reaffirm education as a fundamental right and to celebrate its empowerment to foster peace.

The head information officer of the United Nations, Ms. Stella Vuzo presenting her opening remark before the dialogue session

The dialogue for the importance of education proceeded through multiple panels that tackled subjects within this year’s international theme: “Learning for People, Planet, Prosperity, and Peace.”

Presentations emphasized how access and quality of education contributes to developing talents, skills, and creative potential to discover innovative solutions to the greatest challenges facing humanity and the environment.

Kelvin Eduard from YUNA spoke at the panel, “Learning for Planet,” on using education to preserve the environment and to develop ways to help reverse unsustainable practices so that people could live in harmony with nature in the future. As our greatest classroom, nature is an imperative priority to protect and respect.

At the panel, “Learning for Prosperity,” Glory from TEDI emphasized that youth should equip themselves with soft skills to prosper in the workforce. She said that the positive results of acquiring these skills will would include enhanced access to work and increased income.

Youth participating in the active dialogue session

For the panel, “Learning for Peace,” Irene Ishengoma from GPF spoke about creating a foundation of peace from contributing to reconciliation, mutual understanding, and social cohesion in the family. She discussed the importance of teaching the children these concepts to develop them as future peacebuilders because our core character is developed from a young age in our own families.

After the panels, the participants, inspired by what they learned from the presenters, freely discussed ways to make education meaningful enough to empower people, preserve the planet, build the prosperity of the youth, and promote peacebuilding.

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God.  GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peace building models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

Seeking to end the tragic seventy plus-year division of the Korean peninsula, the One Korea Campaign is garnering attention from an international audience to support a Korean-led grassroots effort for reunification.

The campaign is making waves across the globe, including the far reaches of Tanzania where passionate volunteers with Global Peace Foundation (GPF) shared the One Korea Campaign with students at the University of Dare es Salaam and Kingani secondary school in the coastal region of Bagamoyo. 

Touched by the appeal of two young Tanzanian students for the One Korea Campaign, Dr. Sufian Robert, the Director of the Center for Korean studies at the university, decided to form a partnership to expand the campaign. Dr. Robert has done extensive research on Korea and speaks Korean fluently, having lived in South Korea for seven years. He shared that while unification was very possible, there were many setbacks to unification efforts. Adamant about the need for both North and South to engage in talks about reunification, Dr. Robert said the campaign was still a great step toward progress. 

Despite potential challenges unification could pose, Dr. Robert believes the One Korea Campaign can make significant strides in supporting the peninsula and global security.  Sharing his insight with GPF, Dr. Robert suggested reaching out to people interested in Korea and preparing forums, dialogues, and events throughout Tanzania and the region. Global Peace Foundation representatives brainstormed ideas with him on future collaborations together for attending forums and setting activities with the shared desire of expanding the campaign. 

Taking the lead, Sylvia Mkomwa was inspired by GPF Tanzania to facilitate an educational session at Kingani secondary school, to introduce the campaign. “I care about One Korea and I believe in the vision of a unified Korea,” Sylvia shared, “As part of the global community, we are all responsible to make the world a better place by joining hands to fill in the broken puzzles and Tanzania is part of that global community.”

She asked the students why it was important for Tanzania and them, personally, to support the Korean Dream. “I do see the importance of Korean unification because it is necessary to unite,” said one student, Hiday Juma, “But for me I think the way forward is to identify the sources that are keeping back the unification regardless of when then find critical solution to each one at a time.” Another student, Lucy Joseph said, “The division of these two countries creates the distractive environment where peace cannot exist, I believe peace is one factor for development. Thus, if the Korean Dream is to be reached then it will bring out the factor for development in all sectors economically, socially and politically.”

The students were inspired to continue working toward the Korean Dream at their school. They agreed to plan trips to learn more about Korean history and to continue dialogue and activities for the One Korea Campaign at the school.

Global Peace Foundation’s efforts to expand the campaign in Tanzania created valuable partnerships that expanded the campaign closer toward sharing its message globally.

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God.  GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peace building models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

“Peace begins in the home because it is where we learn to trust, respect, and work together with members of our human family. The warm and nurturing family environment that women create is the model for the peaceful world of One Family under God.” – Dr. Jun Sook Moon, Global Peace Convention 2017

Tanzanian mother participate in an education program hosted by Global Peace Foundation

A young Tanzanian mother sat at her desk, balancing a pencil in one hand and her precious wiggling baby in the other. She carefully transcribed the numbers and letters that volunteer teachers pointed to on the classroom blackboard.

Other children scurry down the aisles, weaving between their mothers and fathers and other students.

This classroom and others like it are a part of Global Peace Foundations’ efforts to empower girls and women of all ages. In the safe environment, the women and girls are encouraged to advance their leadership capacities within their families and communities.  Classes cover subjects like English literacy and hygiene.

A common thread binds these students: their motivation.  Most of them attend classes as parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, and are driven to become better for their families.

The programs remind participants, particularly parents, that one of the most important leadership positions they hold is in their families. This is where they start as change makers in their society. From the family, they can positively impact the emotional and spiritual foundations of each family member. They can cultivate essential virtues like perseverance, dedication to the community, and integrity, and to inspire future generations with the vision to be moral and innovative people who can contribute to their world.

A classroom full of mothers and sisters in Tanzania.

The classrooms focus on the innate value of each individual and their unique contribution to building healthy families as the foundation of healthy societies.

The workshops uplift not position, wealth, or power as measures of leadership and success, but essential and important qualities that women bring to the table that make them natural and powerful leaders in their family. These qualities also bring value to their community, school, workplace, and government.

The program is an offshoot of a leadership academy that is raising young Tanzanian women who are energizing the movement to help families and communities recognize the unique value and vital role of women.

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God.  GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national and regional peace-building models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation