WATERFORD KAMHLABA UWCSA ADVOCATES FOR PEACE

Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa (UWCSA) has urged people to use their voices to create peace in the world.

The international institution of education commemorated its annual UWC Day on Saturday under the theme “Voices for Peace”.

The student-led event was attended by students, parents, alumni, friends of Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA, Governing Council members and the school management.

Dr. Sibongile Gumbi, the Chairperson of the Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA Governing Council, welcomed everyone to the event.

She said the event was about peace within everybody.

“It is about peace around us. And it is about us practising peace, living peacefully, and demonstrating peace,” she said.

Delivering the keynote address, Leanne Mayer, a member of the UNICEF Youth Advisory Board, recalled Nelson Mandela’s words that “people must learn to hate, and in the same way, people can learn to love. It is always impossible until it is done.”

She said if something could seem impossible and still be achieved, then perhaps the same is true for peace. 

“And if hatred can be learned, then in the same way love can be learned,” she added. 

Mayer mentioned that peace was built in conversations, in classrooms, when people who are different from each other choose to listen instead of judging, and most importantly, peace is built when people find courage to use their voices. 

“Because every moment for justice, every breakthrough for human rights, and every step towards reconciliation began when someone refused to stay silent and use their voices,” she said.

She said many times, these came from president leaders, global leaders, but very often from young people, teachers, activists, and people who refused to stay silent and believed that was not an option. 

“This is something that the United World Colleges fully embodies deeply. Schools like Waterford were founded on the belief that the education you bring people together across cultures, backgrounds and beliefs, students from different cultures, different languages, life experiences, live here together. That is a powerful act of peace building.”

She further noted that when people truly get to know one another, it becomes much harder to see each other as enemies. 

She said peace required effort, courage, and voices. 

On voices that challenge injustice, Mayer made an example of Greta Thunberg who used her voice to challenge people to step up for climate change, as well as support future generations.

She also highlighted Wilsie Johnson from South Africa, who spoke up about the stigma of young people living with HIV and AIDS.

“Voices that defend those who cannot defend themselves. Young people who refuse to accept injustice.”

She also said voices matter because it carries something unique, perspective, courage and hope, which was one of the most powerful forces in peace building. 

Mayer further stated that in a world shaped by social media and instant reactions, people must be intentional about how we used our voices. 

“A voice for peace is not the loudest in the room. It is the voice that listens before it speaks.”

In a nutshell, Mayer said peace was about learning how to live, work, and thrive despite our differences. 

“And that begins with conversations, empathy, voices willing to speak with courage and compassion. As we reflect on the theme Voices of Peace, I leave you with this challenge,” she said to a round of applause from the captivated audience.

In her dignified address that captured the audience in silence, Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA Principal Jackie Otula asked: “What does it mean to have a voice, and how do we choose to use it?”

She said people were living in a time where voices were everywhere.

“They are loud, constant and often competing. Too often, they divide. Too often, they are silent. Too often, they are used without care for the impact they leave behind,” she said.

Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA has over 600 students representing over 60 nationalities and taught by staff from 15 countries. It provides opportunities for academic achievement, personal growth, and leadership development for young people across Africa and the world. It offers an International Baccalaureate and IGCSE.