Throughout history, it has been demonstrated how Peace Education and reconciliation programs have transformed societies previously fragmented by violence, leading them towards a path of development and prosperity. Peace and harmony are essential for the construction of a stable society, and are a necessary condition for the survival and development of humanity. For this reason we must emphasize the importance of Peace Education programs.
Freedom is one of the founding principles of UEES and within this context various activities that seek to promote a culture of harmony and peace are framed, such as the outstanding participation of the School of Arts in the IV Festival Orar cantando 2023. An event where music and art come together to inspire a message of peace. The UEES performed the Kyrie from the Missa Festiva by John Leavitt, accompanied on the piano by Juan Sebastián Pincay, a student of the Musical Arts program. The festival counted with the participation of choirs from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uganda, India, Italy, Venezuela, Germany, among others. The UEES Choir was founded in 2009 and is made up of students and alumni. It has participated in festivals such as: “Ecuador: Cantemos Unidos”, “El canto coral hermana a los pueblos”, Festival de Coros del TEC Monterrey, Encuentro de Coros, Universidad de Carabobo in Venezuela and Festival de Coros UnP in Brazil.
In addition, on July 12-13, Isidro Fierro, dean of the School of International Studies, presented “Peace education from the Latin American perspective: the role of the university in peace and conflict at the conference «Peace education in an era of crisis» in Kigali, Rwanda. This event aimed to share experiences and learn about strategies for peace education programs.
Peace-centered training helps to develop social and moral values, skills, and to shape behavior and, more importantly, to spread peace in the environment. Peace education reconfigures the notion of conflict, war and violence. We have witnessed how societies that were fragmented by violence are now examples of economic and social miracles thanks to the implementation of programs that foster peace. Rwanda is a benchmark in the process of rebuilding its social fabric and demonstrated the effectiveness of peace programs in promoting social cohesion, positive values including pluralism, personal responsibility, empathy, critical thinking and action to build a more peaceful society. In 1994 Rwanda was broken by genocide; however, the country is now a role model for security, economic freedom and sustainability. According to the latest Global Innovation Index, Rwanda is the most innovative economy among low-income countries. The East African nation ranks first in its income group ahead of Madagascar and Ethiopia and ranks ninth in the sub-Saharan African group.
Peace education is a fundamental pillar in building a more peaceful and prosperous future for humanity, and UEES seeks to strengthen values and the promotion of harmony to contribute to the formation of a more just and equitable society for all.
Universidad Espíritu Santo (UEES), began its academic activities in 1994 as a private, self-financed, non-profit institution. Its spirit of commitment and constant innovation are present in the quality of the service it offers to its community.
