Young peacemakers gather in Cardiff to celebrate peace in schools
Almost 100 young peer mediators from across South Wales came together in Cardiff Bay on 15 October to celebrate their shared commitment to resolving conflict peacefully.
The event, Celebrating the Peacemakers of the Future | Dathlu Heddychwyr y Dyfodol, was the first children's peace conference of its kind in Wales.
It was organised by the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA) and Quakers in Britain, bringing together pupils aged 9+ trained as peer mediators from schools across South Wales.
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“Peer mediation has really helped limit low level conflict in the playground.
- Katie Wainwright, deputy head of Radnor Primary School
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The children presented their hopes for more peaceful schools, communities, and a more peaceful world to members of the Senedd and invited guests.
When a pupil asked Senedd member Heledd Fychan: "Do you wish you had peer mediators at the Senedd to help you when you have arguments?" she admitted it could be helpful.
Throughout the day, the children practiced listening, empathy and creative problem-solving, exploring how mediation skills improve not only schools, communities and even global conflict.
Children from Merthyr Tydfil schools were delighted to find they were part of a proud tradition of peace building, beginning with international peace arbitrator and Merthyr Tydfil MP Henry Richard in the 1800s.
Katie Wainwright, deputy head of Radnor Primary School, said: "Peer mediation has really helped limit low level conflict in the playground.
“Because all of our year 5 and 6 students have been trained in peer-mediation, they're generally more assertive and resilient in the face of disagreements with friends, which is really great to see."
The programme supports the aims of the new Welsh curriculum, which aspires to nurture "healthy, confident individuals" and "ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world."
Pupils from Ysgol y Graig Primary School said: "Peer Mediation is when we help children who've had an argument talk about what's happened, how they feel, and find a solution. It teaches us how to be patient, respect people's feelings, and not take sides."
Jane Harries, peace education manager at WCIA, said: "This conference is the culmination of a year and a half's work to support 20 schools across South Wales to develop peacemaking skills in pupils."
The work was made possible by support from Southall Trust, South Wales Quakers and the Sallie Davies Memorial Fund.
Quakers in Britain and WCIA are working together to help more schools across Wales and beyond introduce peer mediation and peace education.