Participants discuss topics on One Korea.
The International Day of Peace 2024 was jointly commemorated by Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nepal and Global Peace Women (GPW) Nepal on September 18, 2024. The auspicious occasion aimed to cultivate the mindsets of 24 young people from Nepal and India for peace through a workshop on Understanding the Korean Dream Campaign and Peace Begins the Home.
Korean reunification has become a global movement, bringing people from around the world together in solidarity to defend human rights and peace on the peninsula. Participants were briefly introduced to the history that led to the separation of North and South Korea.
“Through this workshop, I have learned about the history of Korea, which is very important. I hope more young people like me will gain insights into this, as I believe it is a vital topic to learn,” shared one of the participants.
The facilitator, Bambie Panta, explained why other countries should be concerned about Korean reunification by highlighting the benefits of having a free and unified Korea for the world. She introduced GPF Chairman Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon’s book Korean Dream which outlines a vision that can unite Koreans in pursuit of peace both in North and South Korea and around the world. She encouraged participants to read the book to gain a deeper understanding of this vision.
Participants share posters supporting One Korea for International Day of Peace.
“My key takeaway for today is, I should know about international affairs to understand what is happening around the world. I will remember the moment while I was writing a poem about peace during our activity today. It helped me reflect on my knowledge of peace and its importance. Overall, I am cherishing this moment that will stay with me throughout my life,” Chetana Pandey expressed.
After learning about the history of Korea and the Korean Dream, the participants worked in teams to create beautiful artworks on their vision of a unified Korea. They presented their artworks and explained their concepts. Building trust among countries, humanitarian organizations, and civil societies, as well as fostering awareness, negotiation, and acceptance of differences, were among the ideas presented by the participants to resolve the dispute between the two Koreas.
The workshop also highlighted the important initiative called Peace Begins in the Home, which is directed by GPW. Bambie explained how religions and culture influence the values of each family. She also introduced the various uniting themes from around the world, from the African ethic Ubuntu, “Love thy neighbor as thyself”, the Sanskrit phrase Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, and the Hongik Ingan principle from Korea, highlighting their common foundation of recognizing the innate value of individuals and the humanity’s interconnectedness for the greater good. Participants then reflected on the values they’ve learned from their parents and how they promote goodwill with others. They then shared their insights with their friends, discovering that they have common values of respect and compassion for others. This highlights the significant role of families in building peace.
International Day of Peace in Nepal supports One Korea Global Campaign.
“The International Peace Day session helped me to understand the importance of peace, as well as the values and traditions taught by our families to build peace in society and the world. I also learned a great deal about the Korean Dream. I was able to see the artworks and poems created by friends in support of peace. Overall, the session reminded me of the importance of social cohesion and peace,” one of the participants shared.
This session has helped young participants understand the difficult situation of the Korean people and how families can play a part in peacebuilding together. Through this experience, they have learned to empathize with individuals they do not know personally, strengthening their belief in the vision of One Family under God. Through continuous education and campaigns, GPF Nepal envisions more people who will own this powerful vision and strive for world peace starting from their own families.
We would like to thank Innovation Hub Kathmandu for supporting the workshop.
Read more stories on International Day of Peace.
