A RETIRED schoolteacher and unionist says Fiji needs a structured and thorough peace education initiative or a peace-building movement that encompasses all levels of society, across all age groups and sectors.
Susana Tuisawau believed this initiative should start with children from infancy and extend to adulthood, necessitating involvement from all sectors to tackle the rising societal challenges.
“For example, in Fiji, in the communities, there are traditional cultural values and customs,” Ms Tuisawau said at the inaugural IWPG Peace Conference Program held in Suva last weekend.
“At this point, we need to note that each country’s peace education needs will differ, hence one type of peace education cannot fit all.
“We have our own different cultures, different needs, and issues in each country, for which we have to tailor our peace education to meet.
“We want to try and cultivate a culture of peace through educating people who have long been prejudiced against others, and exposed to challenges that you and I may not be exposed to in the community, would be an extremely difficult task.”
She explained that anyone being taught to develop inner peace must understand how to appreciate the systems and cultures around them and how peace should be upheld in relation to the cultures of those they are connected to.
