Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace NGO, held the third and final session of its online Global Peace Leadership Training on October 17. About 40 participants from India, Sri Lanka, The Gambia, Liberia and the United States took part in each of the three weekly sessions, held on October 3, 10 and 17. Participants included members of religious communities, educators and youth organizers.
Tenzin Celon, a lecturer at the Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education in India, said the world becomes more dangerous when people witness evil and do nothing, and that people need the courage to act when they see it. Celon said everyone can deliver the message of peace and, by practicing it, leave a legacy of peace for the next generation. Celon also expressed hope that the training would continue.
Sister Bencita Emmanuel, a nun of the Missionary Sisters of the Queen of the Apostles in India, said the stories shared in the second session, including those of a man without arms and legs and of Nelson Mandela, showed that people should be able to care for others and dedicate their lives to the well-being of others. Sister Bencita described gratitude, consideration, sacrifice and forgiveness as virtues everyone should practice in daily life.
Ebrima M. Sarr, a youth mobilizer with the Amdallai Youths and Sport Association in The Gambia, said after the first session that he had been working for peace through the association in recent years, teaching many people about peace, and that the training added meaningful content to that work. He asked for a recording of the session to review it and continue follow-up activities.
The first session introduced HWPL and gave an overview of the HWPL Peace Education curriculum. The second session covered Lessons 5 to 8: Being Grateful for Kindness and Grace, Being Considerate of the Benefit of Others, A Sacrifice without Compensation, and Understanding and Forgiving Others. The third session covered Lessons 9 to 12, which include Respect for Elders, Efforts towards Preservation of Heritage, and Law-Abiding Spirit and Law of Peace. Each session ended with a sharing time in which participants discussed what they had learned.
According to the organizers, HWPL will hold make-up sessions, and participants who meet the requirements will be appointed as HWPL Peace Educators. HWPL carries out peace education, interfaith dialogue and cooperation with youth and civil society to promote a culture of peace.
