"Me... Against Violent Extremism" Student Art Projects in Yemen

Student participants at Raba'a Al-Adawia school for girls in Sana'a, Yemen.

Under the slogan “Me…Against Violent Extremism,” SAVE Yemen and Raba'a Al-Adawia School organized a workshop for female students from different grades. In the workshops, the girls drew their perspectives about terrorism and extremism.

SAVE Yemen trainers Fatima Al-Zuhairy, principal of Raba’a Al-Adawia, Noor Baabad, a Minister in the Department of Social Affairs, and Fahmia Al-Fotih', SAVE Yemen Coordinator, facilitated the workshop and observed the students’ outcomes.

In the beginning of the workshop, Ms. Al-Zuhairy had a dialogue with the participating students in which she measured the students' level of understanding about “terrorism and extremism.” She also discussed with them the negative impact of terrorist activities on their personal lives, communities, and beloved country. Ms. Al-Zuhairy explained to the young girls the importance of their roles in building peace and rejecting intolerance and negative practices as the future mothers and leaders.

 Ms. Baabad talked to the young participants stressing the important roles that young people can play in developing their countries; she told them that development could not be achieved unless there is peace and accepting of other cultures.

Ms. Al-Fotih expressed gratitude to the school's administration and to the student participants, hoping that their noble participation in rejecting violent extremism would move beyond the workshop to their families and their communities.

At the end of the workshop, around 18 students managed to come up with a number of portraits through which they depicted their strong hopes for peace and fears of bombings and insecurity. Some have pictured a peaceful village of houses demolished by a bombing and others portrayed suicide bombers destroying all lives.

An example of a student's response to violent extremism through art.

This students' campaign is just of one of activities that SAVE Yemen is carrying out.

Report by SAVE Coordinator Fahmia al-Fotih'

Indonesian Students Declare "SAVE Indonesia!"

One hundred students from fifty Javanese high schools, universities, and pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) came together in late December 2009 to declare the birth of SAVE Indonesia (Students Against Violence and Extremism). The students drafted a 10-point declaration, resolving to respect every difference, refuse discriminatory behaviour, speak out against violence and promote the spirit of sisterhood in Indonesia. The declaration was the culmination of two Indonesian Students’ Youth Peace Camps 2009 held in Tawangmangu and Lembang, in central and west Java. The camps were organized by the Center for Pesantren and Democracy Studies (CePDeS) Jakarta in cooperation with local organizations in Solo and Bandung, with the support of Initiatives of Change (IofC) Indonesia.

Lily Zakiyah Munir, Director of CePDeS and SAVE Member, emphasized that the “activities were initiated because of deep concerns [about the] violence which has emerged using religious doctrines and dogmas mainly targeted [at] youth. We hope these camps will give birth to a new generation of Indonesian youth who will internalize the values of love and peace, and appreciation of diversity.” Each camp lasted for four days, during which the participants reflected on acceptance of self, belief in diversity and ability to lead.

Declaration of Indonesian Students on Peace in 2009:

1. I, the Indonesian young generation, highly respect every difference that should be safeguarded and respected in our daily lives;
2. I will cast away from any discriminatory attitudes and behaviours disadvantaging other individuals or groups;
3. I will prevent any kind of acts of violence and extremism;
4. I refuse any forms of violence and extremism on whatever grounds;
5. I am prepared and committed to become a peace activist and to be part of an international peace network that continually seeks to end all forms of violence and extremism;
6. I fully support all positive actions of the Indonesian young generation in performing peace activities;
7. I am prepared to become pioneer of peace movement and form the SAVE Indonesia Network developed by Indonesian students and santris;
8. I will involve the government, students’ organizations and the society to play an active role in safeguarding Indonesia’s young generation from all forms of violence and extremism;
9. I will uplift the spirit of sisterhood, mutual respect and peace in guarding Indonesia’s harmony and diversity;
10. I will speak out against all forms of discrimination and violence by anybody through various media. 

Indian Student, Poem on Peace

“You came to show us your movie based on 26/11 terrorism, so I just wanted to give a poem on peace.”

—Alyka Haider, Delhi Public School, Jankipuram

     Peace Before Tomorrow

     The world today is full of conflicts

     Peace should come before tomorrow

     People dying human suffering

     Peace should be nailed inside your heart

     Killing and fighting doesn't make today better

     It makes life harder tomorrow

     Blood flowing like a river

     Rotten flesh as high as mountains

     Every hour just another pile

     Peace should not end by a war

     Peace should end by laying down your weapons

     Peace today could make guns into flowers

     Cannons into fireworks

     Peace is what should be done immediately

     It is always too late to wait until tomorrow

     Because hundreds die tonight

     Peace is easy for you and me

     And all it takes is to change your mind

     Your world could change before tomorrow

     And it could be right now

You can see "Surviving Terror" (the video that Alyka is responding to) here. This SAVE film is an 8-minute feature dedicated to the victims and survivers of the terror attacks in Mumbai in November 2008.

Childrens' Voices Against Terrorism

A five-minute feature presenting the voices of Students Against Violent Extremism at the Delhi Public School in New Delhi, India, produced by Archana Kapoor. SAVE - Sisters Against Violent Extremism initiative, Schools Against Violent Extremism aims to mobilize both youth and adults working with youth to recognize and speak out against the destructive nature of terrorism. Schools Against Violent Extremism is a network of students and teachers committed to ending violent extremism within their communities through workshops, school curricula, afterschool programs, speaking engagements, community outreach efforts, letter writing and signature campaigns, and other community-based solutions.