UIN Alauddin Online – Efforts to promote a safe, peaceful, and violence-free educational environment continue to be encouraged by many groups. One such effort comes from Waode Surya Darmadali, a lecturer at the Faculty of Adab and Humanities of UIN Alauddin Makassar and a member of the KITA Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Foundation Committee, who served as a facilitator in an activity titled Education for Peace at SMP Negeri 1 Makassar on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

The program, initiated by the KITA Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Foundation in collaboration with the Makassar City Education Office, was attended by 100 junior high school teachers from across Makassar. Participants received training on peace education, violence prevention in schools, and ways to create learning spaces that value diversity and inclusivity.

As a co-facilitator, Waode led several key sessions, including interactive discussions, simulations of school violence cases, and group reflections. Using participatory methods, teachers were guided to recognize various forms of violence—verbal, physical, and psychological—that often occur unconsciously within educational environments.

In her presentation, Waode emphasized that teachers play a strategic role as role models in fostering a culture of peace in schools. She explained that an educational approach grounded in empathy and nonviolent communication serves as the foundation for building healthy relationships between teachers and students.

“Schools should be safe spaces for children to grow and develop. Our duty as educators is not only to teach knowledge but also to instill human values,” said Waode.

Furthermore, she highlighted that violence in education is not merely a matter of individual behavior but is also connected to broader cultural, systemic, and habitual factors that need to be reevaluated. Through Education for Peace, teachers are encouraged to develop a critical awareness to reject all forms of violence and to become agents of change within their schools.

“Violence often happens not because of ill intent, but due to a lack of understanding. Through peace education, we learn to listen, to understand, and to respect differences,” she added.

The program also provided space for participants to share experiences and strategies in addressing violence-related issues in schools. Many attendees said they gained new insights into the importance of empathetic communication and self-reflection in the teaching and learning process.

Waode expressed hope that programs like Education for Peace would continue to expand so that more educators understand the importance of peace education. She also stressed the need for collaboration among schools, parents, and government institutions to jointly build a child-friendly and equitable education ecosystem.

“We want schools to truly be places of learning, not of fear. A culture of peace doesn’t grow overnight—but it can flourish when we start from ourselves and our immediate environment,” Waode concluded.