Peace Camp
This year’s Peace Camp, hosted by the Community Partnership Committee, is a revival of one very important activity that COL high school students have regularly engaged in for many years. The Community of Learners has consistently underscored the significant power and responsibility inherent in the contributions of our high school students to bring about meaningful change, both in the present and the future. This activity is a collective effort to foster peace, recognizing the imperative need in a world marked by division and strife. As peace-builders within a unified community of learners that embraces diversity, they willingly accept the challenge of promoting mutual understanding and acceptance among themselves. The collective aim is to serve as reminders to one another about the intrinsic value of human rights and responsibilities. Together, we set our intentions and offer prayers for peace in our world.
Over the years our “Kids-to-Kids Peace Camps” have expanded their reach beyond the school community, extending support to children in poor urban and rural areas, those under the care of various social institutions, and children caught in the crossfire.
The focal point of this year’s peace camp is the dissemination of much-needed positivity. The participants utilize their voices to continually reinforce the profound meaning and value associated with peace. For them, peace signifies a state of harmony, free from violence and chaos. It materializes when people can share happiness and embrace each other’s differences. In a world characterized by peace, all humans are safeguarded and respected, irrespective of their distinctions. Placing trust in others becomes a fundamental aspect of peace, as they collectively endeavor to bring balance to the world. Their commitment to spreading peace commences with understanding and empathizing with those around them, starting with their fellow schoolmates. A session starts with a thought-provoking trivia question regarding International Peace Day to reinforce the global commitment to peace on September 21.
The first group activity, entitled “Jumbled Letters,” serves as a catalyst for cooperation and problem-solving. Participants engage in the meaningful task of rearranging letters to construct peace-related words, emblematic of unity. To fortify comprehension, the facilitators furnish precise definitions for key terms such as trust, cooperation, understanding, acceptance, and empathy. A supplementary trivia question focuses on the dove, universally recognized as a symbol of peace.
The next activity, “Helium Hoops,” actively encourages cooperation and trust, challenging groups to maneuver a hula hoop using only their pointer fingers. The script seamlessly weaves-in pertinent information about the Nobel Peace Prize, underscoring its role in acknowledging individuals dedicated to fostering peace, justice, and equality. Notably, Maria Ressa, a Filipino journalist and the very first Filipino Nobel Peace Prize awardee, is spotlighted for her advocacy against fake news and authoritarianism.
The assembly culminates with a prayer by Pope Francis, incorporating diverse peace greetings (Shalom, Peace, Salaam), and concludes with an affirming Amen. Participants receive prizes for their participation, and symbolic peace stickers are distributed as mementos, urging each individual to contribute actively to a more peaceful world.
