“The Students Who Once Refused to Attend Class Have Changed!” The Miracle HWPL Peace Education Brought to a School in Lesotho
Hello, everyone! ๐๐
Whenever we hear about bullying or
conflicts in the classroom these days, many of us can’t help but wonder, “Is
there a way for children to learn to respect and get along with one another?” ๐ข
Today, I’d like to share an incredible and heartwarming true story from Lesotho, a small kingdom in southern Africa. ๐✨
Some schools that were once on the verge of collapse due to fighting, students refusing to attend classes, and property damage underwent remarkable transformations after introducing HWPL Peace Education, eventually becoming some of the country’s top-performing schools.
So, what exactly happened in these
classrooms to bring about such a remarkable change? Let’s take a closer look
together! ๐ฅฐ
Lesotho has faced high levels of youth
unemployment and poverty, and the resulting frustration often spilled over into
the classroom.
When frustration and resentment built up, some students would refuse to attend classes or resort to violence as a way of making their voices heard.
When Principal Puleng Nkaletse took over at
Libaneng High School in 2019, the school was facing a serious crisis, with
enrollment having fallen below 100 students.
“I knew we needed change, but I didn’t know
where to begin.”
— Principal Puleng Nkaletse
That was when Principal Nkaletse was
introduced to HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light)
through the local civil society organization DPE. ๐ค✨
๐ A Student “Minister of Peace”? The Classroom Started to Change!
One of the most remarkable things after HWPL Peace Education was introduced was how much the atmosphere at the school changed.
Rather than focusing simply on rote
learning, students were encouraged to practice values such as respect,
consideration for others, cooperation, and sacrifice in their everyday lives.
The school introduced student leadership roles such as a “Minister of Peace” and a “Minister of Education”!
Now, when students have a problem or
complaint, instead of skipping class, they turn to their elected “Minister of
Peace” and work to resolve the issue through dialogue.
“Fighting has decreased a lot. Now, we
either work things out among ourselves or talk to the Minister of Peace.”
— Relebohile Maseru, Grade 10
When the school faced the possibility of
missing a sports competition because of a lack of funding, the student
representatives came up with their own fundraising plan, raised the necessary
funds, and made it to the competition. ⚽๐
๐ A
Remarkable Academic Turnaround — Breaking into the National Top 10!
And the transformation didn’t stop at Libaneng High School.
A remarkable transformation also took place at Morifi Community High School. ๐
What began as HWPL Peace Education training
for the principal and just one teacher eventually expanded to include the
entire teaching staff, who joined voluntarily. Every Monday, students also
chose a peace value to put into practice throughout the week.
“As teachers and students learned and
practiced the values of peace, the classroom environment changed—and that
change was reflected in their academic results.”
— Principal Noangelina Debeshe
As students began reaching out to one another and the classrooms became calmer, their ability to focus on their studies improved dramatically as well.
The result was remarkable: Morifi Community
High School ranked 8th nationwide in Lesotho’s 2024 national final examinations—placing
it firmly among the country’s top 10 schools! ๐ญ๐
๐ A
Nine-Year-Old’s Simple Words: “I’m Sorry.”
At Lekopa Community Primary School, a
fourth-grade student named Bohlokoana shared a simple but heartfelt example of
the changes she had witnessed. ๐ง
“Manini pushed Katleho, but then came back
right away and said sorry.”
By learning from an early age how to express gratitude and respect others, the children began choosing kindness over conflict—writing thank-you cards to their parents and learning to be the first to say, “I’m sorry.” ๐
These small changes that began at school
gradually spread into students’ homes and throughout the wider community. ๐ฟ
๐ฅ Around
100 Teachers Unite in the “Peace My Lesotho” Pledge
In March, HWPL and DPE jointly held a graduation ceremony for teachers who had completed peace education training. ๐✨
Around 100 teachers from across Lesotho
gathered for the event. An official responsible for curriculum and assessment
also attended, expressing hope that peace education could eventually be
integrated into the public education system.
At the ceremony, the teachers read the “Peace
My Lesotho” pledge together, declaring, “Peace in Lesotho begins with me,” and
committing themselves to spreading peace beyond their schools and throughout
the country. ๐ค
Isn’t it inspiring to see how one person’s
small actions can transform a classroom—and perhaps even help shape a brighter
future for an entire country? ๐ฅบ๐
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