Peace Builders - Children for Peace Launched By Church Of North India , Methodist Church , U.K, United Reformed Church and Henry Martin Institute

“The God of peace, the God of life orients the struggle of his people in a precise direction towards the establishment of justice. There is no peace without justice. This integral relation between peace and justice should form all our peacemaking activity” opined Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary, Church of North India , during the launch of PEACEBUILDERS : CHILDREN FOR PEACE, a programme of the Church of North India in collaboration with the United Reformed and Methodist Churches in Great Britain , for research, interfaith relations and reconciliation. Starting with groups of children, they aim to share knowledge and experiences, working together towards peace on many levels from local to international.

Ruby Beech, Vice-President Designate of the Methodist Conference, was among the dignitaries who said: “Peace is everyone’s responsibility and children have a huge role to play. In fact it is the children who often push us to work harder for peace. We are not telling children what to do to create peace in their communities - we are here to listen and let them teach us.”

Stephen Orchard, Moderator Designate of the United Reformed Church, said “In today’s society, it is so clear that our communities - and the whole world - need peace. Peace-builders is about taking small and perhaps some larger steps for peace. We believe that by working together and using our enthusiasm and experience we can make more peace, day by day.”

Mr. Steve Pierce from Methodist Church UK said, Children are not often asked for their opinions on the big issues of life, but Church of North India and church partners in the UK believe that children are the perfect group to start when talking about peace. This Easter, representatives from the Methodist and United Reformed Churches are visiting India to ask children what they think needs to be done to build a more peaceful future. He  shared with Church of North India a “peace-box” with peace messages from children in Britain and they were in turn presented by a peace-box with messages from the participating audience of adults and children.

Ms. Rajyashri Waghray, Director, Advocacy, Justice and Education, Church World Service congratulated Church of North India for initiating such a process involving children from the margins to communicate the message of peace. She said, “Our partnership with Church of North India in studying the ‘human rights violations of the girl street children’ has been an eye opener. Today as we understand the concept of peace, from such children, I am just humbled”

CNI believes that children are harbingers of Peace, which is establishing Justice for those at the margins and for the oppressed. This involves a process and CNI believes that children being one of the best agents of change need their present to be nurtured to shape them for the future. During the launch of the programme, street and working children of the Church of North India , Delhi Brotherhood Society staged a play titled “Shanti Shantham”. This play has been evolved by the participating children and the Director, Mr. Gopal Datt through a Theatre Workshop. Besides, children from formal institutions also performed cultural programmes on the theme. Shanti Shantam is a story of Aarampur, a rich, prosperous and peaceful Country which was invaded by King Andhakar of the Kingdom of Agyan Raat . Soon the peaceful country Aarampur became chaotic by the influence of three main warriors of King Andhakar namely Aalas, Krodh and Phoot. It was a story of children, who were troubled by this situation and motivated by Gyansu, led the community to Shanti Shanttham, a place of happiness and peace, by crossing river Shiksha.   

The Church of North India, with its headquarter in New Delhi, operationally covers the whole of India except for the four southern states and are engaged in various programmes among children, women, youth and the community at large through different initiatives at both micro and macro levels. One of the primary concerns is working with children at risk. In the city of Delhi its intervention has been largely among Street and Working Children through the Delhi Brotherhood Society of the Church of North India . Different projects are ongoing to mainstream them through non-formal education, vocational training and shelter.  

Mr. Sudipta Singh, Director Programmes of the Church of North India while introducing the programme said, “Children are central to our Church, peace is central to our faith so we are delighted to be working together in this way with our British colleagues. We believe that peace-building is a process, and what is a beginning today from children will continue, not just in the city of Delhi , but also in different parts of the country and global. Having street and working children to enable us to understand “peace” from their perspective itself is a good learning.”

Father Monodeep Daniel, Chief Functionary and Secretary of the Delhi Brotherhood Society opined that, “The process of doing a theatre workshop with street and working children and then evolving the concept of the play along with them has been a remarkable achievement for the Church of North India, Delhi Brotherhood Society. This has brought a hope in these children that their dreams can come true. The concept of peace building through the play also spread the message of evangelism of culture”

Ms. Sanjana Das, Co-ordinator Children’s Concerns said, “Children have gently spoken to us that building peace is not difficult. All that we need to do is to cross the river, like the Shikhsha Nadi in the play; lead the people, like Gyansu; and enter into the “new heaven and the new earth”, Shanti Shantham. For this we need to be ‘willing’.” She concluded by challenging, “Are we willing to join these little children?”