It’s the International Day of Peace on 21st September, and in an effort to continue along the vein of the #RebuildSA movement following the riots earlier this year, the independent school group, Curro, is once again encouraging individuals, communities, schools and businesses to join in its #HopetoHeal initiative.
Launched soon after the violence in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal erupted and shocked the nation, #HopetoHeal started as a video produced by Curro and featured 20 of its learners calling for peace during a time of devastation and destruction while singing the Something inside so strong song.
Driven on social media using its hashtag, the initiative was heavily supported by South Africans who got behind the message of hope by spreading the video.
Now, Curro has produced a new song that is based on the original Peace Song which was written in 1992, and produced by Sello Twala (Chicco) and other South African artists. In Curro’s rendition of the Peace Song, learners again use their voices to encourage South Africans to continue spreading the message of hope, which over and above the riots remains necessary, given the social, economic and health hardships we have faced as a nation since March 2020.
“As a country we have been dealt with many heavy blows over the last year, but we are strong as a people and a country, and peace will prevail. This International Peace Day we urge South Africans to come together online to show their support and spread the Curro Peace Song rendition, while also creating content using their rendition of the song. By raising our collective voices we can inspire hope and kindness, and start to heal as a nation, a nation that has experienced so many challenges recently, but also historically,” says Marí Lategan, Curro Holdings Executive: Corporate Services.
Established by the United Nations in 1981 the International Day of Peace invites all nations and people to honour and commemorate the day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.
Young people are our future and by engaging with them to spread the message of hope, we can start to imagine our country that is driven by peace and prosperity she says. As Thabiso Simelane encourages in the video, “we can bring about positive change in our community through love, respect and embracing our differences and doing a random act of kindness”.
“Let your random act of kindness be a show of support on social media for the #HopetoHeal initiative this Peace Day and continue to spread its positive message,” concludes Lategan.
To get involved, simply share the Curro Peace Song video and tag @CurroHoldings using the hashtag #HopetoHeal while also tagging your community to do the same.