# data[].attributes.body
I have always considered everyone capable of bringing peace into our world because, after all, peace starts within us. It can come from our drive to help others and even in our willingness to spread goodness in our own simple ways. After the first session, I was really happy to gain plenty of knowledge and get to know people who strives to attain peace. I was able to share what I learned to my family and friends; my mother, in particular, was very happy to know that I have joined School of Life.  Moreover, I felt that the fire inside me, which yearns for a better future for all of us, became brighter. In the end, we are all candidates of peace because we have the same goal of having a more harmonious world free from judgement and violence.

Maria Veighda Angela A. Inoval
Philippines

# data[].attributes.body
For me, a candidate for peace is a lot of things and one of that is someone who won't hesitate to reach out to other people, to their fellow people, especially the one's who doesn’t have that much in common with the candidate because they want to reach out to a lot of people and show that unity is very much possible in diversity.

Like so, I reached out to the other candidates and tried to be as cooperative and collaborative with my ideas to the people that I am in the breakout room with and because the attendance of other people aren’t always consistent the people who I interact with in the breakout rooms, I meet new people every session of the training.

Alongside this, I am also teaching and telling my fellow youth members who aren’t in the school of life training the things that I learn from it because even if they are not in the training I still want them to bring peace and become a candidate that way we get to encourage more people to continuously bring unity and harmony in our communities.

Xyrille Gale S. Valenzuela
Philippines

# data[].attributes.body
Being a candidate or ambassador of peace is accepting everyone around you. We all rested up in different families, Societies, and countries, which is mean we all look at life from different corners or views. We should always focus on the positive side of each of us, this can let us into sustainable love and peace in our countries, societies, and communities.
The world can unite if we promised ourselves to accept each culture and take action to learn a new culture every day because simple culture is the way of life in any given country, society or community.
Candidate of peace should be a true  example of a peacemaker in any society he/she lives in.

Thomas Batista Balash Fada
South Sudan 🇸🇸

# data[].attributes.body
Everyone has a chance of being a candidate for peace. Each of us has the power to do something for our world. After the brainstorming session on what peace is for us, I was amazed at how we have different looks at peace yet there is something common in what we've shared and that is all our definitions of it have goodness in it.

Jihan Harvey C. Casiedo (Philippines)

# data[].attributes.body
After knowing that everyone is a candidate for peace, I was inspired to improve myself. I am a shy and reserved person, and it is hard for me to initiate a conversation. Nonetheless, I am slowly trying to break down the personal barriers that hinder me from initiating conversations and creating meaningful relationships with other people. I believe, in this way, it would be easier to promote peace since I will gain new perspectives in life.

- Thea Reyes (Philippines)

# data[].attributes.body
I can not change the past including those of my mistakes and shortcoming but I can change the future, given an opportunity.  Choosing the right path by not condemning those who I have hurt and who have hurt me but by learning and showing compassion. Everyone deserves another chance to be a candidate for peace.

Ronald Gabriel Teng
Philippines

# data[].attributes.body
Being a Candidate or ambassador of peace is first being at peace with myself. This because you can't give what you don't have. It is that peace that I share and live with others.
I should examine my inner peace and live well with myself and others.

Amuj Pasquale Yohannes Yor living in Uganda

# data[].attributes.body
The first session was an eye-opener for me. It was nice to know how a lot of people, especially the youth, wants to do something in order to have peace. I was honestly nervous at first, but opened up to the people in the breakout room as time goes by. Before the session ended, we were asked to talk to someone who we were not close with and try to connect with them. I did this and felt good about it. I realized that like me, some people might just be shy or anxious to talk to others, but if we tried even just once, it would give us happiness and peace within us. Not only we earned one friend, but we were able to find joy in communicating with others which is a way to find world peace.

Sophia Clarisse Cruz
Philippines

# data[].attributes.body
Seeing everyone as a candidate for peace means that everyone will do their very best to help make the world a better place.

I learned that their are a lot of important skills and essential manners to help make the world more peaceful. I learned that a simple word can change someone's life, and that no matter the differences between cultures and communities, its essential that they try to get along, not just to maintain the peace, but to have fun and a committed relationship between the two communities!

I also learned that bridges build relationships and that walls break them, walls don't have to be solid or seen to be affective, I for one think that most people's wall is made out of anxiety and fear of judgment , but its never too late to start building bridges and to help demolish your anxiety and fear.

Rand-07-JOD

# data[].attributes.body
The first session I became aware of the other people with me who are also driven and motivated to be ambassadors of peace and noticed the diversity between us. I understood the true meaning of being a peace ambassadors and the requirements that came with it.

# data[].attributes.body
Being a very judging person, I usually stick to people I know while having the habit of casting unconscious judgments on other people based on their lifestyles and the way they present themselves. However, after the first session, I started opposing the thoughts I had. Whenever I feel like I'm about to judge someone without actually knowing them, I count to 5, and then try to think of all the possible ways my judgment could be wrong, going from the negative thoughts to positive ones , considering everyone as a candidate of peace, spreading love and understanding in his/her society in their own way. It made me feel more open to people, and it made me start conversations with strangers and meet new people I never could have thought about meeting. I started to embrace all the good surprises that come out of diversifying your surroundings. Everything can start with a simple unexpected hello!

# data[].attributes.body
I learned from the first session that everyone could be a candidate for peace weather it was an old man or just a child everyone with their differences can make a very huge change in the world so the first Session made me know that we are all invited to lead a better life as we are never alone in this .
this amazing journey gave me courage to talk more and express myself so it had changed me I became more talkative and not shy to express my opinion anymore so after that first lesson the Idea I had in my mind has changed and I started helping more people out because now I know not everyone will judge me which is great and made me more happy about myself and And people started to make me more so I think my job here is to spread the message about respecting everyone no matter what because that will affect them in every way so being a candidate for peace is something let's say not that easy because you will have to go through a lot to express your thoughts to everyone and I think every candidate for peace is a great person

Julia-07-JO

# data[].attributes.headline
After the first lesson, I have learnt a lot of essential skills that helps you to live in peace and be a peaceful person . I have learned that everyone should be respectful, accepting, how to communicate with others , sharing love to everyone at school , home or in public places .The fun part about the meeting is that when we have entered in small groups ,got to know eachothers  and found what we had in common because this has improved my communication’s skills a little and helped me to stop being anxious while meeting to new people.

# data[].attributes.subject
After the first lesson, I have learnt a lot of essential skills that helps you to live in peace and be a peaceful person . I have learned that everyone should be respectful, accepting, how to communicate with others , sharing love to everyone at school , home or in public places .The fun part about the meeting is that when we have entered in small groups ,got to know eachothers  and found what we had in common because this has improved my communication’s skills a little and helped me to stop being anxious while meeting to new people.

# data[].attributes.body
Besan🇯🇴

# data[].attributes.headline
seeing everyone as a candidate for peace-session 1

# data[].attributes.subject
seeing everyone as a candidate for peace-session 1

# data[].attributes.body
Peace enhances our communities and individual lives, as it directs us to embrace diversity and support one another to the fullest extent possible. Through caring, generosity, and fairness we provide a cornerstone for attaining a sustainable, just, meaningful, vibrant, and fulfilling personal and community life.
so after the first session, I've learned about the things that would brighten someone's day, it doesn't HAVE to be a full-on conversation, it could just be a simple "hello" or "good afternoon", I didn't need to know the person that I'm talking, to as long as I'm acknowledging their existence. I've been trying to get to know more people and talk to them more often, it really did make me happy to know that I could socialize with someone without making them feel anxious on their part and mine as well.
As a person that only sticks with their friend group and doesn't like going out to places that are filled with strangers, I can say that this session has really changed my sense of mind and made me feel less overwhelmed, SO now I'm able to go out with my friends to those kinds of places without feeling anxious.

# data[].attributes.body
After the first session, I started thinking
in a different way , I believed that
everyone can make a difference in the
world and tone united by being nice to others  and being
compassionate starting by me . In my experience, I
started caring more about others , not being selfish ,helping people out, listening to others , and considering  everybody as my friend  . Honestly, it made a huge difference, I’m not shy anymore i can talk to everyone without hesitation or worry .

07-JO-Sewar

# data[].attributes.body
When I knew that God has created each one of us in His glorious image, I had started to understand that I have to deal with all.
I tried many times to put myself in the shoes of others, I did it and I had their feelings in addition I understood their point of view.
I was lack of internal peace until I met the movement of Focolare who I learned with them how to see everyone as a candidate for peace, but remain to practically side until I met Carlos Palma with the initiative of Living Peace, I start to practice it with the dice of peace among my students, friends, family and different occasions.
Today I can say that to see each one as a candidate of peace is not easy without support and back help of someone/ real supporters and from inside I had to change my mind set and negative background about others and exchange it to positive thoughts by living the present moment.

# data[].attributes.body
After learning what a candidate for peace is, I started trying to do small things that might make someone’s day.

For example, I’ve been trying to listen more actively to my friends, and I’ve been trying to share some of my experience that might help them, but without making it all about myself. Or in the workplace where I intern, I’ve been trying to do some small talk even if I have a lot of tasks, and because of this, some of my colleagues are telling me that the workplace doesn’t feel so robotic anymore.

Also, as an observant person, I usually notice the small and the big details about everything. So when I’m noticing the good things about people, I’m trying to tell them, especially when it helps in peace making.

Teresa Zohrob, Leb

# data[].attributes.body
Upon finding out that everyone is a candidate for peace from the first session, I immediately tried to think of ways to see further the qualities of a candidate in every person I come across. I became observant of how people act towards each other, such as friends having fun together without anyone being left out and little kids sharing food among themselves. Reflecting on the scenes before me, they’ve inspired me to seek out the virtues that make me call myself a peace candidate.

I consider myself a friendly person, but I often question which friendships are genuine and not. So, I sought after the people whom I know but aren’t close with and decided to try to strike up a conversation. I found out that we have a lot of common interests, and for where it fell short, I researched those topics to talk about when we next meet. In addition to how I lived out what was discussed, I held a review session where everyone was invited because finals were coming up. I did icebreakers so we could be comfortable with each other, and then we shared our notes and did short quizzes too! I can confidently say that I made friends during that session, and I hope they did well in their exams.

With everything that happened, I made sure never to overstep when meeting people, as it can be overwhelming on their part. I respected their boundaries, and they did the same. Furthermore, I tried matching their energies to keep our conversation going, and I think it went very well! Seeing everyone in a new light brings out their better qualities that I’ve never noticed before, and it truly helps me see the potential they have for becoming a peace candidate, as I, too, am trying to live out the qualities of one. I admit that I have more to learn, and I hope to tackle these as I go through these sessions.

- Russell Benjamin (PHI)

# data[].attributes.body
when i first learned that i am not alone in this journey and that there are so so many others on this amazing journey that are here to help to make this world a better place for everyone in the present and the future

i wrote down some notes about how we could all unite and form a force to rebuild communities and rebuild humanity step by step
and thats being done by giving back love to everyone we know and dont know and we have to spread this message to others and that we should not judge others for whoever they are. no matter what they do or believe in we must respect them. unless they then break the boundaries which is when we talk them into also respecting others boundaries and respecting others just like we are

# data[].attributes.body
After learning that everyone is a candidate for peace, I, myself, didn't waste any time in making sure that I live out my learnings for this day.

First and foremost, I made sure that I explore my newly-shifted worldview of how everyone is a candidate of peace — being reminded that I am called to make, cultivate, and promote peace with everyone in this world; regardless of the multitude of our differences that may otherwise separate us.

From this day forward, I always make sure that whenever I interact with other people — whether new acquaintances or already-established connections — I consciously connect myself with this wisdom that I must at all times preserve the peace that I am called to embody and demonstrate to others. This, of course, extends to a whole new set of virtues that I am called to foster: patience, kindness, compassion, and love.

I am glad to have learned this, and it feels refreshing how this piece of wisdom helps me become a better person guided by and living with peace.

- Sofia Mendoza (PHI)

# data[].attributes.headline
Seeing everyone as a candidate for peace 

# data[].attributes.subject
Seeing everyone as a candidate for peace 

# data[].attributes.body
After the brainstorming in the session, I strengthened my mind that we should believe in the change that we wish to make.. To witness a change, first we have to be the change and no matter what our vision stays focused towards the destination..

Regardless of what emotion I was given, I gave back love to everyone.. I took some time in exploring people's minds and breaking the ice with them will establish the first connection between us and that will keep us going.