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More
than 15 teenagers in classes 10-11, with guidance from leaders and
trainers, gathered for a very un-childlike and lively discussion
and analysis of the training in peace and tolerance they had led
in their schools. It was striking how confidently and skillfully
these youngsters applied terms they had picked up relatively
recently.
“I told him that he had to be more tolerant”, 15-year old Anzor
Dadaev tells the others about Magomed, a boy who abruptly left the
classroom during training in a school. Magomed didn’t like what he
heard about all people being equal, whatever their ethnicity, skin
colour, culture or religion. He was convinced that his religion
and his people were better than all others. Anzor had many
conversations with him, explaining that, essentially, all people
are equal and strive towards a life in peace and respect of one
another. “How happy I was when, during reflection, he apologized
for his behaviour and admitted that he had been wrong (the time
for reflection is intended to enforce the material covered during
the class)”, continued the young volunteer. “Magomed also
discovered that these exercises and discussions gave him a new
outlook on the world. That is a victory!” added Anzor with a broad
smile.
The North Caucasus is a region where people of different
ethnicity, culture and religion have lived in peace for many
centuries. Unfortunately, in these last years, the situation in
the region has changed a lot. People who were earlier friendly
towards each other have started to look spitefully at each other,
consumed by negative and twisted information and a stereotypical
view of “the other”. The result has been the growth of xenophobia,
distrust and hate. The war in Chechnya, territorial disputes
between Osetia and Ingushetia, terrorist acts in Dagestan and
Kabardino-Balkaria, and many other things have been the cause of
the current situation, where the region is considered a hot spot.
This has made it a necessity to promote tolerant thinking and
behaviour among the region’s inhabitants in order to prevent
extremism. Working with students in schools is the most effective
means of overcoming the conflicts and resistance which has become
ripe in society.
In light of the above, UNICEF’s peace and tolerance promotion
project seems all the more relevant. The current project began in
2005. Aslan Khaduev, Coordinator of the project, elaborates: “The
goal of the project is to popularize peace promotion and tolerance
among children and young people in the North Caucasus. It is very
important that theses words are not simply words; it is essential
that every person understands what they actually mean. I think
that this project is necessary and that we do very important work.
If we are able to change just one person, and this person -
another, that means we can change the whole world. Judging from
the responses we have gotten, we have already changed a lot of
people. This means that the world has become a better place.”
Aslan Khaduev also explained that the peace education includes the
work of a mobile training group consisting of 6 trainers. This
larger group is divided into three smaller subgroups, each with 2
trainers. Every subgroup carries out peace training in various
schools and teaching centres. This time is also used to identify
the most active and creative young people. Because it is these
youngsters who become volunteers and continue to organize peace
training in their schools, at first under the supervision of the
trainers, but later independently. The peace and tolerance project
also includes peace camps for children and young people in the
North Caucasus, to which the volunteers go to participate in
further training together with volunteers from the other
republics. They are accompanied by camp leaders, young people with
pedagogical skills, who are there in order to ensure the safety
and discipline among the children and teenagers at the camps.
Dr. Rashed Mustafa, Head of the UNICED Office in North Caucasus
says: “In the entire world, the development of tolerance is
recognized as a necessary component of peace, the promotion of
good values in the young generation, and a socially active
personality. The promotion of tolerant attitudes and education at
a young age contributes to the development of a harmonious
personality, as well as a sense of democracy and justice, directed
towards supporting public institutions, a preventing extremism and
violence in a modern society.” |
