Development for Peace Education marked International Peace Day with a bold message of hope and unity along with the celebration of the bicentennial of Basotho nation, in a crime-ridden district in Mafeteng Ha- Nthonyana ‘Mamaebana on the 24th of September 2024.
The celebration was attended by all the formations within the community, including civil society organizations, churches, teachers and students, businesses, health center, and Traditional healers. The celebration was aimed at marking the milestones of the Basotho nation in line with peace that the founder of the Basotho Nation had always longed for amongst Basotho and also finding ways of maintaining peace.
When briefly giving the history of the Basotho nation and International Peace Day, DPE Coordinator Tšepo Mosoeu indicated that Basotho were fundamentally gregarious peaceful nation that used to be sympathetic towards one another. He further pleaded with Basotho to come back from being a broken nation and stop the brutality as it does nothing but cause hatred amongst them and also contributes to becoming a sad generation. He emphasized that Basotho should develop a human heart and treat each other with kindness.
Commenting on this, MP for Maliepetsane Lehlohonolo Hlapisi also pleaded with the community to pursue living in peace at all times and to refrain from revengeful practices. Adding that, the hatred and lies amongst them should stop, he thanked DPE for strongly continuing with peace education in schools and communities as this action positively impacts the lives of Basotho.
On behalf of churches, ‘Marelebohile Ramahlaku and Taelo Ramahlaku stated that peace comes from within a person and it is important for parents to allow their children to go to church where they will be taught and be guided with peace education
During this event, the message of the United Nations Secretary-General on International Peace Day was read by DPE, in celebration of this day communities made different performances that indicated unity and peace traditional songs such as “Ntlamo etc. DPE also highlighted the launching of the newsletter, on students’ and teachers’ experiences on peace education in their schools. However, the Peace Education Researcher (PER) Melida Bohloko, shared information regarding the newsletter as a digital publication and will be available on social media platforms also at the community libraries.
The International Peace Day was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly the 21st of September was officially declared as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.
