Beatrice Amiri, a longtime teacher, is the Deputy Head Teacher at Sacred Heart, an all girls secondary boarding school in Gulu. Morris Obal, a veteran classroom teacher, is the Deputy Head Teacher at Gulu College, a mixed day and boarding secondary school. Both teachers endured wartime experiences during the conflict in Northern Uganda; both are affected by conflict; both, as shepherds and educators of over two thousand children combined, have a stake in lasting peace.

On November 4, 2009, in anticipation of their schools' roles as pilot secondary schools in Peace Education, Guidance and Counseling in Northern Uganda, UMECS Executive Director Arthur Serota asked Ms. Amiri to share her reflections on peace and peace education. The next day, November 5, 2009, Mr. Obal was asked the same. Excerpts follows:

Beatrice Amiri

"Peace is a state of being when people live in harmony, when people co-exist and are happy to co-exist, when people value one another and are making an effort to stay in relationship.

"In terms of preventing wars, peace education will go a long way. School is the place where children can learn peace. Peace education empowers children, youth and the society to have self-reliance. The best way is to sensitize children in school to develop values of peace and build their peacebuilding skills and competencies.

"Inwardly, peace comes from the heart.

"Peace education and agriculture must be consolidated.

"Peace education must be combined with child centered peace activities such as peace drama, role playing, debates, short essays. These activities must address key concepts of conflict in society. It is important to organize activities that are child centered, and not teacher centered.

"An absence of peace creates a lot of misunderstanding, people are suspicious, disgruntled, aggressive, which can lead to a very mixed up society. People don't see any good in the other and this can lead to violence.

"Peace is a settled mind, a positive attitude, positive behaviour and a spirit of teamwork.

"Peace is the natural state of the newborn child."

Morris Obal

"Peace is when people are living in harmony, in a state of no war.

"Peace is an engine of economic development. There must be peace to sustain economic development.  Peace needs a broad perception of development.

"When a child is born, that child is peaceful and has a free mind.

"A peaceful Northern Uganda can create a powerful, regional model of peace.

"The mindset determines the peaceful environment. Peaceful mindsets can spread peace.

"To build a peaceful mindset in school, one needs peace education.

"In order to have peace, the idea must not be abstract. It must be practical and include economic and agricultural projects which bring livelihood.

"Women must be given more chances to go to school and participate in peacebuilding as well. Peace education must help men and women become more gender balanced. Girls and boys must believe they have the same talents, the same potential, the same value.

"Every peacebuilding process must begin with reconciliation.

"Peace education for secondary students will have an impact, more especially when they demonstrate what they are learning in the community."