Wind of Peace

Invitation to a ZOOM Meeting for Participants of the Wind of Peace Project

More information about Zoom Meeting - Friday, 23 May 2025, at 13:00 CEST

Introduction

Author: Ronja Polovšak
Primary school Nazarje
11 years

The UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) was established after the Second World War with the mission of building peace in the minds of people and teaching children about tolerance and intercultural cooperation. Its core goal has been to foster a culture of peace in educational settings. This mission has been reaffirmed by the UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development, adopted in 2023.

In today’s world, marked by conflicts and global challenges, the emphasis on peace— understood not only as the absence of war but also as a set of values such as tolerance, mutual respect, and good relationships—is more important than ever. Our world is facing wars, refugee crises, and natural disasters that affect us directly. We also witness severe violence within school environments, which deeply shakes us.

That is why the vision of our network is vital: to raise and shape happy children and individuals capable of empathy and compassion, thus building lasting peace in their communities; to transform schools into spaces where a culture of peace and empathy thrives, where conflicts are resolved constructively and peacefully, and where every individual feels safe, respected, and accepted; and to promote a way of life based on cooperation, understanding, respect for all, and harmonious coexistence with nature.

The Voice of UNESCO’s Children for Their Future

Today, children from all UNESCO and other schools speak up because we are desperate and afraid. UNESCO and the United Nations promised us we would be safe and that we would be helped to feel safe as we step into life. And yet, today, we are not safe. Many countries are at war, and even beyond that, the feeling of safety is gone. So today, we call on you adults to stop all wars—natural disasters alone are already threatening our world. We also demand security and trust among all people across the globe.

We, the children of the world, are warning you that this cannot continue. We observe what’s happening around us and see that things are heading in the wrong direction. It has gone too far, and we fear for our lives and our future. How many people die in wars driven by greed and hatred the very moment a child is born? How many children won’t be born because of war? You must give us the chance to live as you did. We want to see the world and travel like our parents did. In fact, we want an even better world than the one you had. But for that, we don’t need wealth—we just need the opportunity to live and grow into our future. As parents, you fear for us and want only one thing: to keep us safe and help us become independent. But the greatest enemies of children are war and disease.

That is why we demand that—for once—you truly listen to us children. Parents and everyone shaping today’s world, listen to us, your daughters and sons! We’re not speaking about one war—we’re speaking about all wars, climate change, disasters, illness, hunger, and everything caused by human greed and hate—and about the peace we demand. Maybe even about a world without war and hunger.

Invitation to ASPnet Coordinators

Join the project