North Shore Times (New Zealand)
International connections
Peace Week celebrations have united two schools on opposite sides of the world.
Westlake Girls High School video-called World Learning Grammar School in Karachi, Pakistan to discuss peace, and the schools aimed to create 1000 paper cranes between them.
Social studies teacher Shona McRae says connecting with an overseas school relates to the theme of Peace Week: dialogue for peace.
‘‘We live in a globalised world and are using this as a way to connect with other countries,’’ McRae says.
‘‘So many people are fighting and arguing and this is something peaceful that we can share.’’
Peace Week ran from August 8 till 12 and 144 schools around the world participated. It coincided with Hiroshima Day and McRae says the week raises awareness of the effects of nuclear weapons.
Student Angeline van Zuilen says the week helps young people learn so they don’t make the same mistakes.
Teacher Ella Wilson says connecting with a country like Pakistan was an eye opener.
‘‘Pakistan is a country that’s riddled by conflict. To think there are two schools on opposite sides of the earth and we’re both doing the same thing because we have the same mindset,’’ Wilson says.
Peace week was started by The Peace Foundation in 2000. For more see peace.net.nz.