by Sara Zajicova, Head of The Committee
This year’s Peace Simulation was both a productive and extremely meaningful event. It brought together students with different narratives and identities and it created a platform for difficult but insightful conversations.
None of this would have happened without the hard work, dedication, and vision of the four student leaders on the Peace Simulation Committee. The whole team has been a joy to work with and I found their input and perspectives invaluable during the planning process. This is why I decided to interview the four leaders: Noa, Adea, Mika, and Tawfeeq, about their experience during the simulation.
As students who went through the Peace Simulation, what would you recommend others your age could learn from it?
Noa: As the voice of the future, we realize how much power we hold as a student body in shaping conflict resolution because of our hopeful, fresh, and creative ways of thinking. The Peace Simulation is a tool to prove how much potential young people have. Once we realize this potential, it is only a question of willingness and envisionment to be part of the real thing. As for the simulation itself, I like the idea of dividing students into different issue groups to be able to negotiate each aspect in depth. However, I think it would be helpful to add an additional day to the peace talks in which all groups meet and discuss their results. This way the understanding of the whole (and whether it is possible to fuse together all solutions) will be more extensive.
Mika: I learned that a good discussion and clear communication always work and are good ways to face our struggles. As students, we view the world in such different ways and that gives us the amazing opportunities to have different perspectives, explore more, and be open to new ideas. Even though it is not official in a governmental sense, this project is very helpful and educational for the new generations, who will be the ones to continue the formal discussion. I think the simulation itself was very good, but we can improve it by having more engaging activities outside of the discussions and maybe asking the students what structures they believe can work best and then building a program that suits everyone’s ideas.
Adea: Personally, I feel the Peace Simulation is an event where not only me, but hopefully all of us, learn the importance of negotiations and how hard it is to achieve an understanding. I’m aware of the struggle of coming up with agreements but I also witnessed the will of the new generation to achieve peace. I think the Peace Simulation is a proper way in order to give youth a taste of the process that they talk so much about and are eager to experience. As good as the simulation is, I think bonding activities between students are key to them becoming united not only in their representative groups, but also in their delegations.
Tawfeeq: I learned that an agreement can actually be achieved with the help of the Peace Simulation when both sides talk about the conflict and understand where they’re each coming from. It is much easier to come up with solutions rather than staying silent and ignoring the other side’s wants and needs. I think we can improve the simulation by educating students beforehand about the broad aspects of the conflict so that they would have solid facts about the conflict and negotiate more professionally.
Are you personally interested in continuing to be engaged in peace-building in the future? In what ways
Noa: I am very much interested in continuing my engagement in peace-building in the future. Whether as a Charney Resolution Center ambassador or in other ways. I would love to continue with negotiations or continue a path that is very conceptual (like coming up with peace plans) or being active as a spokesperson.
Mika: Yes, I am interested in continuing to be engaged in peace-building. I think I see myself doing things more in the day-to-day rituals rather than governmental.
Adea: The Charney Resolution Center and Peace Simulation, which I helped organize, ignited the desire to pursue peace-building, as well as continue working with the Charney Center. I want to first give back to the place that gave me the desire of achieving a goal bigger than myself. To me, the future seems bright.
Tawfeeq: Yes, I am, and always will be, interested in peace-building that could possibly help the two sides advance in a positive direction and bring everyone closer.