Dreams of a peaceful and harmonious world end when the dreamer wakes. He had dreamt of a world full of happiness where people are strong and healthy, where there are no wars, threats of war nor rumours of war, a world where love reigns. He rises to face a world on the precipice, hears news of killings and natural disasters, of poverty and disease, and goes out to experience discrimination and manifest hatred. He returns on from a world unlike the ones of his dreams, lies on his bed and dreams again.
Dreams do not always come true. However, the dreams of peace is not a wild goose chase. Human beings can live in peace with one another. Even history has evidenced thus – the Northern American Continent with over 300 million people from different part of the world has had no wars between any of its people for over a century. This is in fact a continent where about two thousand battles were fought in its first century. Dream of peace can come alive and become an everyday reality if they reflect our beliefs and values, and everyone work towards ensuring peace and tranquillity in the world.
We the young people of the world are in a great position to make the dreams of peace come to reality. A United Nations report states that youths make up one quarter of the world’s population. This number represent a sizeable percentage of people who suffer the brunt of brutal wars, terrorism and disregarded religious and ethnic conflict all over the world. The number however, also shows a formidable group of people more than enough to take the world beyond the realm of dreams into a place of peace. The vigour and resourcefulness of youths can provide the necessary complement to the strings of various international organisations such as the UN and UNESCO, and various national governments to build a peaceful world.
The individual heart of youths is the breading ground for peace and the spring from which lasting change flows.