Since the early 1980s, September 21 has been observed every year as International Day of Peace. Several peace-focused organizations take the day as an opportunity to inspire creative peacebuilding solutions. For professional mediators, it may serve as a time to reflect on the intimate and impactful nature of the work we do with parties, transforming conflicts into opportunities. The day is also a time to honor those who have made peacebuilding their life’s work. Some communities commemorate the day with festivities, while some agree to a day of cease-fire. Since few of us have escaped the impact of the Covid-19 global pandemic, the 2021 International Day of Peace theme is befitting, “recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world.”
10 Lessons on School Violence Learned While Pursuing World Peace
In my early 20s, I wasn’t interested in school violence prevention. I had big ideas about contributing to world peace. After serving in the Peace Corps, I worked on a Master’s in international development, focused on conflict resolution. This was in the early 90s, before “Columbine” was associated with a high school massacre. An internship in the heart of America changed my worldview.