When we talk about peace education, it should be the work of the whole community. The journey to building peace heroes of the future starts at home, after all.
Enter the Kalilintad Club, a club initiated by our parents for peace as part of their peace education development plan. The direct translation of Kalilintad is peace, and the program’s goal is just that: to get other parents in their communities to be proactive about peace education. The club’s officers are composed of the parents for peace champions who were part of the Peace Education Formation session in their respective communities.
When we talked to Kalilintad officers Racma and Rosda of the Tatak Elementary school community in Mamasapano, both parents expressed how they are grateful for the changes TPBPM brought about. Tatak is a TPBPM Kapatiran school.
The parents observed how the community came to life after TPBP arrived. “Maganda yung kapaligiran, dumami yung studyante, hindi naming naisip na magiging ganyan yan,” says Rosda animatedly.
(The surroundings are nicer and there are more students. We never thought that the community would be like this.)
While the mothers were initially apprehensive about the program, they’ve since seen more improvements and now actively participate in peace initiatives.
TPBPM’s presence, they say, has also improved their relationships with their children. Through their sessions, the parents learn the importance of keeping a peaceful relationship at home through proper communication.
“Dati onting bagay lang pinapalo ko na at sinisigawan, ngayon dapat pala hindi, mahinahon dapat at pakikipag usap. Ngayon hinahanap hanap, naghahalik na siya at nagyayakap siya mas naging kaibigan ko na siya,” says Rosda of her son, Grade 6 Tatak student Rawaha.
(Before, I would spank and shout at my son after he would commit small mistakes. I learned that you shouldn’t do that. Now, he looks for me and gives me hugs and kisses. Now, we are friends.)
Racma also tells us of how she’s noticed that her child takes his role as a peace hero seriously. “Kasi halimbawa ngayon sa mga bata, mag away sila. Sa ‘min sa likod Madrasah, hindi maiwasan na mag-away. [Ngayon], na-express ng mga bata na peace hero daw sila. [Sinasabi nila], ‘para kayong hindi child ambassador’,” she says.
(For example, if the kids end up fighting. In the Madrash, you can’t avoid fights. Now, the kids express that they are peace heroes. They tell each other “it’s as if you aren’t a peace ambassador”.)
Personally, Racma and Rosda have also become empowered as a result of the program. Rosda shares that she realized that she could be a leader even without having studied for it.
Racma and Rosda’s stories as Kalilintad Club officers are great examples of what it takes to advocate for peace. When it comes to making every child and Filipino youth a peace hero, it’s always fun to make it a family affair.
Racma puts it best when she summarizes the TPBPM philosophy: “Sa inner peace, bago tayo mag iba sa kalilintad, unahin muna natin ang sariling pamilya natin. Syempre, gagayahin ka na ng ibang tao.”
PEACE HEROES FORMATION PROGRAM
The Peace Heroes Formation (PHF) Program provides a holistic approach to Peace Education by incorporating Conflict Prevention, Conflict Transformation, and Proactive Citizenship Peace Building. It was designed to apply creative and innovative ways and approaches in teaching about knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, and behavior towards a Culture of Peace. It aims to bring about behavior change that prevents the transformation of conflict into violence and war. This program also hopes to show the relevance of Peace Education in our society, and be able to contribute to ways on how to institutionalize educating schools and communities on the art of peaceful living. TPBPM utilizes existing social structures such as family, school, and communities as the primary niche in nurturing the heart of a child to be a Peace Hero.
