ICC Iligan City (31 October) -- A total of 400 high school and elementary pupils from 12 schools divisions in the region attended the 4th Northern Mindanao Peace Village held at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte (LDN).

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has lauded the Dept. of Education (DepEd), region 10, as it took the lead in fostering peace and respect for a diverse cultural society among the Mindanao youth.

The Peace Village is a welcome and creative way of understanding human diversity, that even in the midst of diversity, unity is always a big possibility, he said.

Among the key activities in the Peace Village were the Peace Art, Peace Wall, Peace Reflections and the Peace Congress which allowed youth participants to solve problems and think critically on issues of peace, conflict and violence.

Peace-learning hubs from each of the region's 12 schools divisions were installed in the village which combines learning and fun with facilitators integrating peace concepts while they highlighted their rich culture and traditions in the form of dance, drama, songs and rituals.

The Peace Village is supported by Executive Order No. 570 which mandates the DepEd to promote a culture of peace in the educational system by incorporating peace education concepts, skills and values in the learning content of basic education.

Meanwhile, Regional Director Estrella Abid-Babano of DepEd, region 10, said participants of the Peace Village included high schools students and elementary pupils aged 10-12 years old from regions 9, 10, 11, 12, Region 13in Caraga and the Autonomous Region from Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).