Peace is intrinsically linked to the cooperation of different sections of society, including faith leaders, Government, Non-Government organizations, civil society organizations, and the community. It is an idea which defines how opposite sects can live alongside each other in harmony.

Samvaad peacebuilding and reconciliation programme constantly creates awareness and sensitization to bring cohesion among different groups and individuals for their development. The programme creates dialogue to diffuse confusion and misconceptions of either communal or any other to avoid mass unrest.

Meerut Seva Samaj, a partner of Caritas India appeals to different programme participants and stakeholders to enable a conducive environment in the society for socio-economic development. Recently, a workshop was conducted for school students of the peace club and harmony club to sensitize them on controlling the strife in the communities.

This workshop was conducted at Amar Shaheed Shambhu Singh Inter College of the Maheshpur area where more than seventy students gathered to know how they can become a spark to promote peacebuilding and reconciliation in their communities.

Under Samvaad, children ensure peace and harmony in their communities through dialogue. These children are the ambassadors of peace who are unified in a group-oriented on peace and harmony to understand the dynamics to prevent fake news and rumours from spreading through social media platforms. With correct information and orientation, these children were responsible for sensing the alert in their communities to avoid any dispute affecting social integration and peace.

The orientation workshops played an important role in preparing them to know about the Samvaad Peacebuilding programme, its goal, and the importance of peace and accordance in the community for the development of an integrated phenomenon. The programme constituted the Peace and Harmony club of the children from the regional schools and frequent training and orientation were done for these children to give clarity on their role and how they can contribute to the peace-building process of their community. Once these children are familiarised, they are engaged in conducting meetings once a month to review the peace status in the community in the event of any incident which may result in any kind of communal havoc. They help in creating a dialogue among different groups in the community.

Eventually, it can be said that these peace clubs and harmony cadres are the task force to anticipate and curb the communal disputes which may trigger through fake news or other mutual disagreements.

The workshop conducted by Meerut Sewa Samaj for the harmony and peace clubs not only prepared the children for their response to peacebuilding but also promoted leadership among children by making them focal persons engaged in the transformation process in the community and sustainability in the programme. The workshop was facilitated by the project coordinator Abdhesh Kumar who oriented the children on peacebuilding and its importance, sensitising the deterrent causes behind fake news and how every individual can respond if they come across any small incongruity which may result in large violence. The school management appreciated the initiative of the partner and Caritas India for longing for peace in the communities for social integration and sustainable development.