By Dr Hakim
3rd October 2018
A video will be posted here soon.
Youth on the Road to Peace Conference 2018
Rethinking their presumptions about the world
While much of the world still believes that the global war against ‘terrorism’ is necessary, Afghan youth gathered to question it.
Questioning their presumptions not only hones their thinking skills, as every student-teacher should do regularly, it is necessary for their continued survival. Thinking critically and creatively helps them to begin altering their dire life-as-usual. It liberates them.
Over four days, from the 25th to the 28th of September 2018 of the ‘Youth of the Road to Peace Conference 2018’, twenty eight youth from different ethnic groups and provinces-of-origin did just that.
They weren’t afraid to rethink their personal worldviews and lifestyles. They conversed and expressed their doubts about using nonviolent methods to address climate change, poverty and militarism.
Some questioned their very selves.
They were being brave.
Because politicians today are maintaining a self-deceptive system that has created the environmental, economic and security crises Afghans have to face or flee from.
Because few of us are willing to publicly admit that, as a human family, we have made mistakes in our effort to organize our societies, that for the earth and for many people, our systems are not meeting the basic requirements for life.
But, the Afghan youth show us that we can still question the norms of money and power, test assumptions, look for evidence, understand, and free ourselves.
Rohullah and the diversity of the participants’ favourite fruit
Rohullah, a law Undergraduate at Kabul University, was so challenged by the daily discussions that he found his thoughts keeping him awake at night. That is how it should be. Rohullah’s courage in working through his past assumptions about life will go a long way to build inner and outer peace.
Jamila and Sayed Mohammad sharing their vision by explaining their drawings
“When I went home after the first day of the Conference, for the first time, I paid attention to the trees and to the plants around me. I realized I had neglected Mother Nature. I found my love again.” 11th grade student Jamila, Tajik
“One of the reasons for the lack of peace is inequality, which includes racism,” Sayed Mohammad, undergraduate at Kabul University, Sayed
Halima from Nuristan Province
“It was new to me to learn about conflict resolution. We can Bring Peace non-violently. I used to think that we can bring peace through weapons and war, but now, I think we can bring peace through freedom and self-belief,” Halima, economics and midwifery undergraduate at a private university, Nuristani
Fatima, left, discusses an issue with Wajma and others
“We humans have been proud. We don’t care for the Earth such that we’re destroying the Earth. So, we should start building peace firstly with Nature.” Fatima, undergraduate at Kabul University, Hazara
Razia in a Conference session
“Our problem is our leaders. If building peace was really in the hands of the people, peace will come easily.” Razia, 12th grade student, Hazara
Haroon with the Borderfree Nonviolence Centre’s resident rabbit, Mihr
“As long as we’re not friends or not close to each other, peace will not come.” Haroon, undergraduate at Al Beyrooni University, Tajik
Ali, second from right, at the Peace Celebration with other participants
“We can build peace through nonviolence, that is, through knowledge and awareness.” Ali, grade 11 student at Maarifat High School, Hazara
Atakhan seeing beyond all borders
“If we don’t accept one another, or if we are racist or nationalistic, we cannot bring peace.” Atakhan, undergraduate at Kabul University, Uzbek
Negina enjoying a tea break
“I learned about nonviolent peace, that we can bring peace to Afghanistan without the sound of guns. I’m also happy to have met friends from different ethnic groups. I had an enjoyable time.” Negina, undergraduate at Kabul Polytechnic, Uzbek
Hasibullah describes his thoughts on conflict
“I used to believe that we can build peace through a strong army and powerful weapons. After this conference, I’ve concluded that we cannot bring peace through war or through military force. We can only build peace through a soft disposition, tolerance and cooperating with one another. “ Hasibullah, undergraduate at Parwan University, who was the earliest to register for the Conference and the earliest to arrive on the first day of the Conference, Tajik
Masood receiving his certificate of participation
“Nonviolent peace is possible, but in our society, it will take time. It’s not impossible, on condition that we’re united and pursue purposeful action.” Masood Mousavi, Television Presenter, Pashtun
Participants hope to build nonviolent peace
We are all connected
The participants realized that their education had not encouraged them to make the connections between global warming, socio-economic inequalities and war. On the last day, as they stood in a circle and created a web with a string, they agreed, “We’re all connected.”
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