We had the opportunity of visiting schools in Mindanao which had been declared “zones of peace”, where violence was not permitted. From my perspective, it seems like it should be a given that elementary schools should be void of violence of any kind, but this is the case for many schools across the world.
At the Children’s Peace Learning Center, we had the opportunity to meet with Catholic nuns and see the pre-school they are operating in Cotabato City. The head nun, Sister Joe, reminded me of nearly every nun I have interacted with; headstrong, confident, and a little bit scary. She and the other nuns were determined to work for peace in a city which has seen its share of violence. The children, who were mixed faith, were taught both Muslim and Christian values and traditions. The nuns stated that, as part of their curriculum, they acknowledge the differences between the religions and are taught to accept them.
Sister Joe
At this school, we met in smaller groups where we could talk to the nuns about what their lives were like outside of the school. One woman talked about how there are certain neighborhoods she avoids because she gets harassed. Many nuns in the Philippines cover their hair, making their religion obvious on the outside, which is something that they share with the Muslim women who wear hijab. So often in conflicts, perceptions about the “other” contribute to continued violence. After visiting schools around Mindanao, it seems that peace programs involving youth are the key to continued peace.
