India: Educators and students lead the way in peace and integrity with RiseUp4Peace initiative

Kochi, India/21 July 2024:In a world grappling with complex social challenges, education stands as a vital tool for cultivating peace, integrity, and the rule of law. These principles are crucial for shaping responsible, empathetic citizens who can navigate and address the multifaceted issues of today’s society.

In Kochi, this transformative power of integrating peace and integrity into education came to life at the UNODC RiseUp4Peace capacity boosting workshop, held in collaboration with the GEMS Modern Academy. Educators from 21 schools joined forces with this initiative, brainstorming how these core values can be embedded into the curriculum and school culture.

In discussions with UNODC’s Samarth Pathak, NCERT’s Dr. Satya Bhushan and veteran educationalist Dr. Ashok Pandey, educators shared practical tools and strategies to address contemporary challenges such as mental health issues and cyber threats.

Educators discussed and shared a range of good practices and innovative interventions, such as a buddy program focused on mental health, pairing students with trained peers to provide support and foster a sense of community, or the creation of student councils to draft policies promoting gender inclusivity and cybersecurity awareness. Such efforts aim not only to address immediate issues but also to cultivate a lasting culture of peace and integrity within schools.

An educator shared, “This workshop was a revelation. It gave us actionable strategies to tackle our students’ pressing concerns and a clearer vision for integrating these essential values into our classrooms.”

Students were also deeply influenced by the workshop’s new strategies and discussions, taking charge to develop responses on issues like cyber harassment, inequalities and bullying. Their enthusiasm was evident as they proposed projects such as a mental health awareness app and an anti-bullying council, demonstrating a spirit of teamwork and confidence.

“This was really enjoyable and we really felt like our voices mattered. Working on projects that directly impact us and our peers made the experience incredibly meaningful. We’re excited to see these ideas come to life,” a student remarked.

Another noted, “We need more truly participatory and interactive sessions where we are heard and appreciated, rather than impersonal lectures where we are just an audience to clap and cheer.”

This feedback was a crucial reminder of the importance of involving students actively in shaping their learning experiences. With RiseUp4Peace, UNODC’s emphasis is on ensuring a real hands-on approach that puts young minds and educators at the center.

The activity contributed to SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/