How can education nurture peace?

When a six-year-old girl in Syria lost her father in the war, she fell silent for months. Her family had no way to take her to a doctor, but her time in preschool helped her cope. After specialised emotional support and guidance for her family on how to care for her, she gradually began to communicate. By the time the new school year began, she entered first grade like any other child. The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has helped Syrian communities set up preschools like hers, in partnership with UNICEF.

In the world’s most peaceful countries, 99 percent of students complete secondary school on average, compared with 52 percent in the least peaceful countries. Yet 273 million children and young people are out of school, and those in class face exam-driven teaching, limited resources and modern distractions. So how can education still nurture peace?

Helping children cope in conflict, as in Syria, is one. Inclusion is another. Schools2030, led by AKF in 10 countries, emphasises empathy and ethical decision-making. A participating school in Brazil often teaches in circles to model equity and belonging, and outdoors to encourage connection to the environment and respect for indigenous cultures. Grandparents visit to share family history and culture, so children learn about their own and others’ identities.

Civic responsibility is a third. In Kwale County, Kenya, Luciano Torriani wanted his community to have basic utilities. As part of the International Baccalaureate experience at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, he co-invented an electricity and water purification system that costs about 50 cents.

A path for young people is a fourth. In coastal Kenya, the Lamu Youth Alliance says that with no education and no work, crime, robbery and drug abuse follow. AKF and the Ministry of Education paired vocational training with values-based learning, aiming to reach 16,000 young people.

Gender equality is the fifth. A former president of the UN General Assembly wrote that it is a stronger predictor of a country’s peacefulness than democracy or economic output. Yet girls in remote areas often face restrictions on travelling to study. In Pakistan, the Aga Khan Hostel in Sherqilla hosts more than 100 girls from the valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, allowing them to continue their education away from home.

Where more people are educated, societies tend to be more stable and peaceful.

Watch the animation above or discover more in 5 ways education can nurture peace.