January 30, the school day of Peace and Non-Violence, is a day of protest in educational centers to raise awareness among the entire educational community and society in general about the value of peace. This year, the themes of the Way of Santiago, the doves of peace and music have stood out.
The educational activities of the DENYP, School Day of Non-Violence and Peace, emphasize the need to actively promote peace and to denounce violence in all its forms so that it is never used as a valid means to achieve something.
At the Saint Augustine High School of the Augustinian Recollects in Valladolid, this 2024-2025 academic year, the activities of this Day have been combined with the theme of the Way of Santiago, since this year is also the Jubilee 2025 “Pilgrims of Hope”.
The first activity was a twinning between students from higher and lower grades, symbolizing fraternal union and mutual support in diversity. Each student had a pilgrim card and a backpack with non-perishable food whose final destination was the Food Bank, thus also making it a solidarity activity.
Next, there was a walking around the complex’s facilities, symbolizing the Way of Saint James, with three stops: lunch, team game and delivery of donations to the Food Bank.
The sports centre hosted the final event with the reading of a manifesto for peace and music as the protagonists. To symbolise the Cathedral of Santiago, a curious representation of the “botafumeiro”, the large hanging censer of the temple of Santiago de Compostela, was installed. The local press echoed this colourful celebration.
At the Romareda High School of the Augustinian Recollects in Saragossa, the main protagonists were the doves of peace drawn by each student, which filled the classrooms, corridors and the courtyard with colour during the commemorative event and the reading of the manifesto.
At the Saint Augustine School of the Augustinian Recollects in Chiclana de la Frontera (Cádiz), the main protagonist was music and a colourful march for peace that left the school complex to reach the surrounding streets, inviting neighbours to join the challenge of non-violence and peace.
The students have recreated with their hands various musical instruments that they have proudly shown to their neighbours, calling them to actively promote peace in the personal, social and international sphere.
