From sunrise hikes to children’s art and heartfelt conversations, the Peace Education Conference 2025 was a celebration of unity and hope. Step into this unforgettable journey of building peace together.
A unique Peace Education Conference 2025 was held in Islamabad on September 21, 2025. The conference began with three parallel sessions in the morning, each held at a different location, setting a vibrant and dynamic tone for the day. This collaborative effort brought together AIOU, Peace Club, Theater Wallay, Daastan Publishers, Quality Education Services, and TRISS School System, creating a truly multi-dimensional platform for dialogue and action.
The day started at 7:30 a.m. with a symbolic and powerful activity — hiking with speakers on Trail 3. This “Hike for Peace” was not a silent trek, but a journey filled with calming music, thought-provoking talks, and poetry. The rhythmic act of walking through nature, combined with a soothing auditory experience, lowered stress levels, fostered meaningful conversations, and cultivated a sense of unity among participants.
In parallel, at 8:00 a.m., the “Walk and Talk” event at F-9 Park offered participants an equally refreshing experience. Instead of sitting in a formal hall, attendees walked alongside peace scholars and speakers, engaging in intimate, open, and insightful conversations. This informal format broke down traditional barriers between speakers and participants, encouraging authentic dialogue and collaborative thinking.
At 9:00 a.m., activities shifted to AIOU, where meditation and a healing circle created a profound experience of inner peace and collective healing. Participants practiced mindfulness to release anxiety, become more present, and connect with a deeper sense of self. The healing circle provided a safe space for vulnerable sharing and empathetic listening, strengthening the feeling of community.
This was followed by an impactful session of “Theater of the Oppressed,” where participants used interactive drama to confront and analyze pressing social issues. Set in the serene green spaces of AIOU, these activities transformed the conference into a holistic journey — blending intellectual dialogue with emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions of peace-building.
At 12:00 noon, participants gathered once again at AIOU for a deeply moving segment featuring children’s art. The artwork, filled with vivid colors and simple yet powerful imagery, captured children’s fears, dreams, and hopes for peace. This visual storytelling shifted the conversation from abstract policy debates to the lived realities of those most affected by conflict, adding a powerful emotional dimension to the conference.
Throughout the day, online participation remained an integral component, allowing wider engagement. Eminent scholars and thought leaders — including Dr. Shahid Siddiqui, A. H. Nayyar, Khadim Hussain, Yasir Pirzada, Safeer Ullah Khan, Dr. Khalid Mahmood, Raana Zafar, Gulshan Rafique, Dr. Sidra Rizwan, and Dr. Rukhsana Durrani — contributed through panel discussions and presentations.
The conference concluded with the book launch of “Taaleem-e-Amn ba Tareeq-e-Amn,” authored by Dr. Afshan Huma and published by Daastan Publications, marking a fitting end to a day dedicated to knowledge, reflection, and collective action for peace.
This unique initiative was conceived by Dr. Afshan Huma, who completed her postdoctoral research in Peace Education at San Jose State University and currently heads the Department of Educational Planning, Policy Studies, and Leadership at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU).
