About 10 schools worldwide are planned to be opened in the Vitebsk region by the end of 2019
Over 20 stands, prepared by students and teachers, telling about the heroic military past of relatives and friends, were installed last year. The campaign has been implemented jointly with the education department since 2016 as part of the republican project "Always in Service, Forever in Memory" and the Peace Foundation's "Memory" program, and has received wide support from the residents of Vitebsk region – enterprises and organizations of the region have started to join the campaign. The Peace Foundation's campaign "Always in Service, Forever in Memory" has been supported by enterprises for the first time in Vitebsk region.
– Patriotic education of youth, continuity of generations, promotion of ideas of peace, kindness and mercy are among the key areas of our organization's activity. Last year, many patriotic, spiritual and educational events, children's and youth reviews and competitions were held in the region. All this became possible thanks to voluntary donations from local residents and sponsorship from enterprises and organizations. By the way, the amount of money received was 5% higher compared to the previous year. The largest part of the funds went to the implementation of local initiatives, – emphasizes Tatyana Tumanova.
In addition to traditional campaigns, new projects were launched in 2018. For example, "Serving the Fatherland," which the Peace Foundation implements jointly with the regional military commissariat.
– Our activists in the districts appeal to conscripts with an order on the need to serve the Motherland, protect peace and tranquility, and present memorable souvenirs and badges of the Peace Foundation. Honorary residents of cities and districts also join the initiative. When taking the military oath, the guys take on a responsible mission – to be peacekeepers, standing up for the interests of the country, – is confident Tatyana Vladimirovna.
A landmark event was the opening of the first "School of Peace" in the Vitebsk region at Secondary School No. 1 in Gorodok.
Currently, in conjunction with the education departments, active preparations are underway to establish several more in the regional center, and their opening is also planned in the Vitebsk, Sharkovshchyna, Lepel, and Glubokoe districts, as well as in Novopolotsk. As a result, a whole network of "Schools of Peace" should emerge in the region.
Young hearts sincerely respond to the initiatives of public peace advocates. One proof of this is the results of the essay and poetry contests under the common title "Happiness to Live in a Peaceful Country." Nearly a hundred poetic works and about 80 essays have been sent from all corners of the northern region, in which modern boys and girls reflect in their own way on the tragedy of past wars and the immense value of peace in the 21st century.
The best works from each district and the winning entries from the Vitebsk region have been included in the books "Children for Peace. Poems" and "Children for Peace. Essays."
This year, the Peace Fund will invite schoolchildren to explore the theme of war and peace through canvas and paints – the republican drawing contest "Happiness to Live in a Peaceful Country" will be launched, followed by the publication of a book.