[Reflection/ENG] 2021 PEACEMOMO WINTER COLLEGE WITH PPDC (11/29~12/9)

/Edited by Gayeon 

With the end of 2021 coming to a close, was held in partnership with The Peace and Public Diplomacy Corps(PPDC). This time, PEACEMOMO Winter College was especially meaningful because it was a place where young people could think practically about what they can do for peace.

About 30 participants from various parts of the world such as Nepal, the Philippines, Rwanda, Japan, Indonesia, and Taiwan gathered with a common interest of practical peace. The combination of the lectures of Francis Dae-hoon Lee, director of The Trans-Education for Peace Institute(TEPI), and the thoughts of various participants created unique mutual learning. The stories of guest speakers working with a different approach to peacebuilding also enriched PEACEMOMO Winter College!

“It was an opportunity to ask questions about life and society fully caught in conflict.”

“I can think critically through active participation and questioning.”

“I enjoyed the warm atmosphere of the sessions, and I learned and reflected a lot.”

The first session was opened by reminding participants of the importance of 'critical thinking’ for practical peace studies and the power of establishing relationships that bring about change. We also examined the theoretical background of peace and violence. It was a time to revisit the fact that visible violence is only the tip of the iceberg and to reflect on the structural and cultural violence that justifies the invisible violence under the surface.

“Peace is not only stopping war or violence, but peace begins with understanding one another in daily life.”

Attachai, Thailand

We could broaden our perspectives one step further as guest speakers contributed to the discussions from the second session. Gayeon, who works for the peace journalism team at PEACEMOMO, shared how to propose and practice a new language for peacebuilding at the interface between peace and media. In addition, discourses related to conflict transformation and peacebuilding were also shared. We could grasp the recent trends focusing on sustainability, such as peacebuilding as a comprehensive approach to preventing conflict, and multifaceted conflict transformation to build sustainable peace.

 

“It was a practical peace lecture to learn structural concepts!”

Suyeon, South Korea

The third session opened with the story of Ayoung, the representative who established PEACEMOMO to connect peace with education and to create a space for mutual learning. In addition, we examined the beginnings and changes of the concept of ‘security’, which we have taken for granted. We learned that the overall flow of the traditional concept of national security was solidified when the word 'cure/care' was given an exclusive boundary of 'we(se-cure)', and the situation in which the strong male state emerged as the subject and military power as a tool. However, it was discussed that this concept of security is also being diversified according to various needs such as health, climate, and education. If we remember ‘Freedom from Want’ as well as ‘Freedom from Fear’, we have come to realize that our security does not depend solely on military force.

“The Winter College spurs me to think deeper about peace in the middle of the domination of the national security paradigm.”

Hasim, Indonesia

The final session was enriched by a discussion with short presentations from guest speakers and participants. Starting with the story of Gasun, who is practicing peacebuilding through cultural exchange between North and South Korean youth, we briefly talked about the racist and hierarchical culture that ‘multiculturalism’ implies along with Rosevi’s question. The stories of participants engaged in peacebuilding activities at various points of contact also shone. Moe introduced the youth initiatives in the peace area based on her experiences at the United Nations Department of Political Affairs(DPPA), Northeast Asia Youth Peacebuilders Social Dialogue of PEACEMOMO, and the Northeast Asia Regional Peacebuilding Institute (NARPI). In addition, Chika, who is engaged in peace education activities in Japan, shared the case of Koreans living in Japan who have a discriminatory status in Japanese society. Hasim, who is working as a journalist in Indonesia and campaigning for peace journalism, pointed out the importance of reporting peace. 

2021 PEACEMOMO Winter College has become a space where each participant can express his/her voice and share various experiences and perspectives along with lectures.

PEACEMOMO Winter College contemplates the way to practice peace.

See you next year!