Peace Day at Bethany
THE hands went up in the air; the tongues wagged. Some lads briefly stood up, others stayed put. The ideas flowed. And as the sun continued smiling on the sprawling green compound of Bethany High School Naalya, you could see the excitement, the enthusiasm and the energy as the students passionately
By Stephen Ssenkaaba
THE hands went up in the air; the tongues wagged. Some lads briefly stood up, others stayed put. The ideas flowed. And as the sun continued smiling on the sprawling green compound of Bethany High School Naalya, you could see the excitement, the enthusiasm and the energy as the students passionately argued out their points. “How sure are we that dropping the ICC charges against Kony will make him surrender,†the bespectacled Elias Dokolo asked his colleagues. The group was discussing Conflict in Northern Uganda during the Peace Day celebrations at the school. The debate got even more interesting as parents participated. Fathers, mothers, sisters listened carefully, and sometimes chipped in, as their children deliberated in what probably is one of few school debates that have actively involved parents. This is the first Peace Day since the New Vision initiated Jazz Peace, a project on peace and conflict resolution in secondary schools.
The project started on July 3 to nurture a culture of peace building among school-going teenagers. The New Vision has since been publishing a pullout on Thursdays on various aspects of peace and conflict resolution in which several schools have participated and will participate until August 7.
The Peace Day is a culmination of all activities that have been going on since the project started.
Five small groups converged under tree shades to discuss various issues on conflict in and outside Uganda. Each group comprised students from O and A level. The topics discussed included: managing anger through negotiation, conflict in northern Uganda, xenophobia in South Africa, strikes and arson in schools and domestic violence.
The students were supervised by their teachers and some parents joined the debates. They expressed their views on domestic violence arguing that it was rampant and has had psychological and physical effects. “We call upon government to put in place strict rules against domestic violence,†said Evelyn Namungoma. The students also made a strong case for peace and conflict resolution.
“Sometimes students’ needs are ignored by school administrators. “That is why some students resort to strikes and arson,†argued Ibrahim Musungu. Representing his group, Ronald Kyabaggu said there should be constant flow of information between students, teachers, administration and parents.
Other students complained that the war in northern Uganda had gone on for long and “it is high time government stepped up its action against Kony.â€
There was a consensus that not enough had been done to pursue peace in Northern Uganda. Students also called upon South Africa to stamp out xenophobia. After deliberation, the students presented documents on each of the topics during an open session at which famous television news anchor; Mr. Francis Bbale was guest-of-honour. Mr. Bbale who planted a tree in the school advised the students to be instruments of peace/
“The students were delighted to listen to Mr. Bbale, a man who many of them had only seen on TV and whose accent they so admired.
Parents and teachers appreciated this exercise. “This initiative will help all stakeholders to understand the importance of peaceful coexistence in society,†Mr. Drake Balinda, a parent said. Students also said they learnt a lot from the activities. We have worked as a team and this has taught us to be good communicators, to listen, respect and tolerate different views,†said Raymond Ochen.
THE hands went up in the air; the tongues wagged. Some lads briefly stood up, others stayed put. The ideas flowed. And as the sun continued smiling on the sprawling green compound of Bethany High School Naalya, you could see the excitement, the enthusiasm and the energy as the students passionately argued out their points. “How sure are we that dropping the ICC charges against Kony will make him surrender,†the bespectacled Elias Dokolo asked his colleagues. The group was discussing Conflict in Northern Uganda during the Peace Day celebrations at the school. The debate got even more interesting as parents participated. Fathers, mothers, sisters listened carefully, and sometimes chipped in, as their children deliberated in what probably is one of few school debates that have actively involved parents. This is the first Peace Day since the New Vision initiated Jazz Peace, a project on peace and conflict resolution in secondary schools.
The project started on July 3 to nurture a culture of peace building among school-going teenagers. The New Vision has since been publishing a pullout on Thursdays on various aspects of peace and conflict resolution in which several schools have participated and will participate until August 7.
The Peace Day is a culmination of all activities that have been going on since the project started.
Five small groups converged under tree shades to discuss various issues on conflict in and outside Uganda. Each group comprised students from O and A level. The topics discussed included: managing anger through negotiation, conflict in northern Uganda, xenophobia in South Africa, strikes and arson in schools and domestic violence.
The students were supervised by their teachers and some parents joined the debates. They expressed their views on domestic violence arguing that it was rampant and has had psychological and physical effects. “We call upon government to put in place strict rules against domestic violence,†said Evelyn Namungoma. The students also made a strong case for peace and conflict resolution.
“Sometimes students’ needs are ignored by school administrators. “That is why some students resort to strikes and arson,†argued Ibrahim Musungu. Representing his group, Ronald Kyabaggu said there should be constant flow of information between students, teachers, administration and parents.
Other students complained that the war in northern Uganda had gone on for long and “it is high time government stepped up its action against Kony.â€
There was a consensus that not enough had been done to pursue peace in Northern Uganda. Students also called upon South Africa to stamp out xenophobia. After deliberation, the students presented documents on each of the topics during an open session at which famous television news anchor; Mr. Francis Bbale was guest-of-honour. Mr. Bbale who planted a tree in the school advised the students to be instruments of peace/
“The students were delighted to listen to Mr. Bbale, a man who many of them had only seen on TV and whose accent they so admired.
Parents and teachers appreciated this exercise. “This initiative will help all stakeholders to understand the importance of peaceful coexistence in society,†Mr. Drake Balinda, a parent said. Students also said they learnt a lot from the activities. We have worked as a team and this has taught us to be good communicators, to listen, respect and tolerate different views,†said Raymond Ochen.