The 1st session of the Peace Teacher Training, which started on December 15, 2023, and concluded on January 26, 2024, spanned approximately 7 weeks with a total of 10 sessions. The ceremony took place in the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture of Timor-Leste and was attended by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture of Timor-Leste, around 20 professors from about 8 higher education institutions within Timor-Leste, and Timorese officials, including the media team. The graduation ceremony commenced with speeches by the Minister of Higher Education of Timor-Leste and the International Director of HWPL. The Minister of Higher Education, acting as the presenter, delivered a congratulatory speech and presented certificates to the graduates.
Dr. Jose Honorio da Costa Pereira Gerônimo, Minister of the Ministry of Higher Education emphasized the importance of peace in society, noting that people may not actively seek to learn about this aspect. However, the minister highlighted the crucial significance of peace, stating, "Even if we believe we have knowledge about peace, we must continuously learn about it." Furthermore, the minister stressed the significance of HWPL peace education, requesting that each institution implement it, underscoring the need for practical steps towards peace education in various organizations.
HWPL Peace Education is an education that fosters citizens of peace with the value and spirit of peace. There is no place under heaven and earth that is more beautiful and better to live in than the Earth. However, many people are suffering from war, famine, a gap between the rich and the poor, environmental pollution, and more all over the world due to human greed and selfishness. Such reality that humanity faces still remains a problem to be solved and is being passed on to the future generations. Therefore, HWPL proposed peace education as a way to leave a beautiful world of peace as a legacy for the future generations and is implementing the "Peace Educator Training Program" worldwide, targeting educators, to equip them with the knowledge of 12 curricula regarding the meaning, values, and qualifications of peace, enabling them to teach these concepts to students.
Participants at the event shared their thoughts on becoming peace educators. Nicolao Tolentino Simão da Cruz, an Assistant Researcher and Lecturer at the National University of Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL), expressed gratitude for the opportunity provided by the HWPL-led Peace Education training, supported by the Ministry of Higher Education Science Arts and Culture of Timor-Leste. He highlighted the valuable contributions of lecturers from Heavenly Culture World Peace, Restoration of Light, who shared knowledge over the seven-week training sessions, emphasizing the importance of understanding peace education's role in transforming societal mindsets. Cruz stressed the link between peace and development, underscoring the significance of individual integrity and forgiveness, learned from HWPL, in building a peaceful world. He thanked HWPL and UNTL for their collaborative efforts in expanding Peace Education at the National University of Timor Lorosa'e.
Through the graduation ceremony of the Timor-Leste Peace Educator Training, participants united their hearts to cultivate peace citizens through peace education and to spread a culture of peace among the citizens of Timor-Leste.
Furthermore, the International Relations Department of the National University of Timor-Leste (UNPAZ) has adopted HWPL's peace education as a regular course, with plans to nurture students as citizens of peace. HWPL is committed to continuing collaboration with local community stakeholders to achieve peace in Timor-Leste. Currently, various initiatives, including the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), Public Art Project, and Peace Journalist Education are underway in Timor-Leste, contributing to the realization of peace.
