Peace Among School Desks
“Peace Among School Desks” is an educational and workshop-based program promoted by the University of Milan as part of the initiative “La Statale for Peace” and the PNRR guidance pathways supporting the transition from school to university, under the supervision of Professor Roberto Cornelli.
The initiative, addressed in its first and second editions to the students of the M. L. King Institute in Muggiò, was carried out in two cycles: from 16 to 19 March 2026 and from 20 to 23 April 2026. It was an educational experience focused on reflecting on the meaning of peace and on the constructive management of conflicts.
Through an approach combining theoretical lectures, workshops, role-playing activities, group work, and guided visits, students were able to explore the highly topical issue of peace both from a legal and international perspective and within everyday relationships.
The program, structured over four days and repeated in both editions, included an initial introductory day with a guided visit to the exhibition “100 Books for Peace”. This was followed by two days dedicated to an in-depth exploration of conflicts, with the participation and guidance of mediators from the Centre for Restorative Justice and Penal Mediation of the Municipality of Milan. The fourth and final day focused on nonviolence and included a concluding visit to the mural “Streams of Peace,” dedicated to Mario Paciolla.
The program aimed to foster critical awareness, dialogue skills, and mediation competences, encouraging an understanding of conflict dynamics and of possible nonviolent resolution strategies.
During the sessions, topics such as the urgency of peace in the contemporary world, alternative forms of conflict management, the role of emotions in conflict processes, and the value of nonviolence in societies marked by tension and war were addressed.
In addition to expert lecturers, the project also involved the participation of university students, with the support of classroom tutors and PhD candidates Valeria Benedetti and Martina Caslini
For further information, the posters for both editions are attached.
