“Today, we make a promise to notice one another, stick together and lead by example. We stand against bullying and value everyone the way they are,” said President Karis. According to the president, this is an example of good behaviour not only in school, but everywhere from home to parliament. “This way we can build a future Estonia, bold and innovative, rich in culture and empathetic. In short, a place where it is good for people to live and to realise themselves,” the head of state added.
“On the one hand, we do not need much to realise ourselves as people, communities and nation in the best possible way – just some peace within and around us. On the other hand, we know how difficult it is to achieve it,” President Karis noted. “The lives of many people and the history of the whole world have been nothing but an arduous journey towards peace, punctuated with constant setbacks.”
According to President Karis, only peace allows us to achieve something, to build something permanent. “Everything else ruins and destroys. Sometimes directly and without mercy, like the bombs currently falling on Ukraine, which have destroyed nearly 2000 schools and nursery schools. Sometimes slowly and secretly, like a careless word that starts eating away at our confidence or sense of security,” the head of state observed.
The signing of the School Peace Agreement on Vallimägi Hill in Paide was attended by President of the Republic Alar Karis, Minister of Education and Research Tõnis Lukas and representatives of various schools and children’s and youth organisations. Paide took over the title of the City of School Peace from Keila.
