The first School of Peace in the Vitebsk region opened in Horadok
Over the past two years, the educational institution has put a lot of effort into the civic and patriotic education of the younger generation. The Museum of People's Glory has been reconstructed, children, together with teachers, have assisted veterans, participated in the improvement and reconstruction of monuments and military burial sites from the Great Patriotic War, and conducted search work, thus justifying the присвоение of such an honorable status.
At the ceremony, in the presence of honored guests, 20 young men and women were awarded the title of young peacemakers, took an oath, and released white doves into the sky – a symbol of faith and hope for a peaceful present and future.
– This initiative is being implemented in the republic through regional and oblast branches of the Belarusian Peace Foundation. Schools of Peace have already been established in the Gomel region and in Minsk, and it would be wrong if one were not organized in the Vitebsk region, which suffered greatly during the Great Patriotic War. Gradually, they will appear in other parts of the region. For example, Miory, Glubokoye, and Sharkovshchina have already shown interest. The project contributes to strengthening peace and security, and fosters universal humanistic values of humanism and compassion in children. These are the priorities of the Peace Foundation, – said Tatyana Tumanova, Chairperson of the regional branch of the Belarusian Peace Foundation, emphasizing the significance of the initiative.
The school opening took place within the framework of the international gathering of young peace messengers, which was organized in the Vitebsk region for the first time and brought together children from Gorodok, Shumilino, and the urban-type settlement of Dedenovo, Moscow region. The suburban health camp "Orion" in the village of Kabishche served as the international platform. From September 20 to 22, schoolchildren from Belarus and Russia exchanged views and lived a rich social life.
Delegations from the two countries, including the participants of the gathering, representatives of local authorities, and public organizations, opened the alley of friendship of young peace messengers, took part in a scientific and practical conference, an intellectual tournament, and visited places of military glory of the Gorodok district.
It is symbolic that the events took place on September 21 – the International Day of Peace, and also in a special year for Gorodok and the region as a whole.
– In literally two weeks, the Vitebsk region will begin celebrating the 75th anniversary of liberation from the Nazi invaders. Liozno will celebrate this significant date in October, and the Gorodok district in December. Therefore, it is no coincidence that such a large-scale project for patriotic education of youth, which is gaining international significance, has been launched now, – noted Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies. – In these difficult times, when shots are ringing out around the world, it is very important to unite, as the schoolchildren from Belarus and Russia who took part in the first gathering of young peace messengers have done. We remember the historical past that unites us, and we also understand that the future lies in peace, good neighborliness, and remembrance of those who died defending our lands during the war.