Peace in school, peace at home, peace in the world. Peace of mind. 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. 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.
Yet there is no other way, because 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 result is the same – lost opportunities, pointless labouring and worry. Breaking a growing and learning person is particularly easy when they are still searching for themselves. In this fragile age, there is a particular need for school and home to be places where you can feel safe.
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. 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.
All of this starts from these small things that inspire peace around and within us. The way we take care of and encourage one another and notice problems, which we can then help to resolve. How we create a space that is supportive both mentally and physically.
We have become better at all of this, including through the School Peace initiative, the Bullying-Free School programme and other activities. Yet we still have a lot to learn and practice.
Let a message travel all over the world from Paide today – let us seek peace, at home and in school, in communities and in conducting state business, to help us build a better, friendlier and more creative Estonia.
I wish everyone a peaceful school year.
