Peace Week

Remembering Christchurch, March 2019. Remember them by doing good.

About Peace Week

The horrific Christchurch Mosques attack on 15 March 2019 was followed by an amazing outpouring of aroha (love) and compassion that offered hope and healing at a time of potential despair and division. Since the first anniversary, many people sought ways to reconnect to that solidarity but were unsure what could be done and what would be appropriate.

Established in 2021, the University of Auckland’s annual Peace Week is a coordinated approach with acts of service and charity to honour the 51 shahada (martyrs) and the other victims. It is also an opportunity to learn and understand our different cultures, ethnicities, and faiths by sharing, having conversations and doing good work.

Peace Week is an invitation to the university community, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, religion or background – to set aside time and energy to see each other and recognise our shared humanity. It is an opportunity to grow social capital, social cohesion and cultural and religious diversity literacy by facilitating connections and extending these to new networks and people we don’t usually interact with.

The theme for this year is “Unmasking Prejudice: The power of knowledge and empathy”.

"The pursuit of knowledge is the noblest of all human endeavours, for it is through understanding that we come to know the world and ourselves,” wrote Ibn Sina, the great 10th-century polymath.

"The good news is that human beings can regain the sense of connection to themselves. Just as we can regain the sense of connection to our nature. Empathy, which is a genuine human quality, is in us. We are actually wired for empathy......," said Gabor Mate.

Peace Week themes and key messages from previous years include:

Charity - turn our good intentions into intentional acts for good - recognising this is something that we can all invest a bit of our time and effort into.
Empathy - is stronger than sympathy and has the power to transform relationships and create fundamental social change.
Unity in diversity - building (sometimes difficult) bridges and respecting each other by accepting our similarities, as well as our differences
Justice and courage – understanding that real peace can only be achieved with justice and that standing for justice often takes considerable courage and resilience.

Here are some reflections from people participating in Peace Week last year:

"I had the privilege of attending the launch event of Peace Week 2024 held at the University of Auckland. The collaborative efforts of the UoA Muslim Chaplin Shahela Qureshi, Muslim Students Association (MSA), the newly formed Muslim Staff Network (MSN) and Campus Life culminated in a thought-provoking panel discussion. Brilliant speakers Dr. Usman Afzali and Dr. Bilal Naser eloquently emphasised the importance of justice and courage in establishing peace. Their insights resonated deeply with me, reinforcing the notion that there can be no peace without justice", said Ankita Askar (Scrum Master and core group member of the Muslim Staff Network).

"The speakers at the launch of Peace Week 2024, grappled empathetically with questions of justice and courage from the point of view of their scholastic research and personal reflections. The content of their presentations and response to questions answered promoted thought-provoking dialogue and conversation which flowed into the gathering after. The hall was abuzz with chatter and we all departed with much to reflect upon," said Dr Janine Irvine (life writer, oral historian and research scholar).

Peace Week 2025. Size: 96.9 kB. Type: PDF.

Download this PDF file. Size: 96.9 kB.

Events

Launch Event: Unmasking Prejudice – The Power of Knowledge and Empathy

Date: Monday 17 March
Doors open: 6pm
Seated by: 6.20pm
Event starts: 6.30pm
Location: OGGB (260) Room 051, 12 Grafton Road (OGGB5 Lecture Theatre)

The launch of Peace Week on Monday 17 March will include a discussion from esteemed speakers about the importance of knowledge and empathy as key aspects of unmasking prejudice.

Speakers: Dr Fatima Junaid, Dr Aamina Ali

Kai/Iftar: 7.45pm in the OGGB Level 0 Foyer

Save your spot

Presentation: Embracing Anti-Racism and Empathy through the Teachings of Islam

Date: Wednesday 19 March
Time: 6-7pm
Location: General Library (109), Room B15, 5 Alfred Street (LibB15 Lecture Theatre)

Well-known local scholar Mrs Waseema Ahmad explores how Islamic principles promote equality, compassion and understanding. This talk highlights the importance of embracing diversity, combating racism and fostering empathy to build a more inclusive and harmonious community.

Kai/Iftar: 7pm onwards in the Basement Foyer

Save your spot

Peace Week Bazaar

Date: Thursday 20 March
Time: 12-4pm
Location: Student Quad

Peace Week encompasses a wide spectrum of themes and activities that help to bring about peace and greater social cohesion. These include environmental advocacy, inner peace, art, empathy and human rights. As part of this year's events, we will be hosting Peace Stalls, creating an interactive space for discussion, awareness, and community engagement to promote meaningful action toward a more peaceful and just society.

51 Threads – Healing through embroidery

Date: Friday 21 March
Time: 11am–12.30pm
Location: Maclaurin Chapel Hall, 18 Princes Street

"51 Threads'' is a poignant project born in the aftermath of the tragic March 15 Mosque attacks in Christchurch. It merges the traditional crafts of embroidery and Arabic calligraphy to create a platform for people and communities to come together and stitch messages of hope and peace. It aims to promote healing, remembrance and unity.

In a world woven from a single thread, we are on a mission: to connect, to mend, to remember.

Kai: Tea, coffee and biscuits to be served

If interested in participating, please contact Shahela Qureshi on email (s.qureshi@auckland.ac.nz).