Anahera Gildea, Wellington, New Zealand. Writer and mother

I grew up in the generation of women that were told they could do anything, but that is not what I saw. My mother and her mother before her seemed locked into the same strictures that kept them guarding the hearth and brewing the tea. I came to feel in this fractured, alien, 21st century, that my foremothers had nothing to offer me. Yet as I grew, their subtle mission became my own.

I have seen how the women before me wove and strengthened ties to the communities around them, to their extended families and to each other. Those same cords operated as roots that tied them to the Earth wherever they were, and in Maori culture, the Earth is a woman too. On the surface it seemed as though their lives were made up of the drudgery of witnessing the adventures of others, witnessing time pass, never anything for themselves. What has become clear to me as I have grown is that those very same cords and ties that took so long to create can never be broken. Though I imagine I have more to do now than my foremothers, the weaving and strengthening of relationships between myself, my family and my community, in the broadest sense, is the true legacy my fore-mothers taught me.

There is a famous Maori saying that summarizes this perfectly.

He whakahou rongo wahine he tatau pounamu. [The peace brought about by women is an enduring one.]

Ka mihi nunui ki a koutou katoa.

Olga Belobrovy, Saratov, Russia. Physicist

World peace begins with the family, like the construction of a large building begins with a tiny brick. All the members of our society are born and brought up in that warm home. I think the people that have the most influence on the way we turn out as individuals—on whether we are kindhearted or cold, well-behaved or not, hardworking or lazy, strong or frail in body and heart—are mothers.

A mother helps her baby turn into a well-shaped individual with her unconditional love. Her patience, dignity and calmness help the child live without fear. A mother’s love is the eternal gift of nature. By her own example she helps her child learn and distinguish what is right and what is wrong, and in doing so she makes sure that as her child grows up, he or she will know how to say no to aggression and terror, violence and war.

Having said this, I think that women are not inherently peacemakers, but learn it from their mothers. In saying this I mean to emphasize that the role of a mother in a girl’s life is immeasurable.

I believe in the power of nature. Mothers are the source of life as well as its guardians. That is why I think women take key roles in various peace movements. A peaceful society is women’s natural environment.

Protecting women equals protecting peace.

Dolores González Saravia, Mexico City, Mexico. Director of SERAPAZ, a peace NGO, and founder of the Escuela de Paz (School of Peace)

A culture of peace is about the building of new kinds of relationships—relationships, between individuals as well as groups, rooted in respect, justice, inclusion and the full exercise of rights.

Women have traditionally taken on the job of ensuring the continuity of the cultural and material aspects of their families and communities, playing important roles in those processes that aim to improve their immediate living conditions. However, it remains a challenge to ensure women’s participation in the larger and more complex public space.

In this regard, we need to understand peacebuilding as a long-range process that requires the will and commitment of a diverse population of civilian as well as political actors, so that peace can be integrated into both formal and informal educational systems and environments, as well as into social mechanisms and the management of conflict.

In this sense, the biggest obstacle to a culture of peace is exclusionary social structures that generate injustice and inequality; societies with values based on individualism, profit and competition, lacking an ethical foundation and notion of the common good.

Radwa Saad, Cairo, Egypt. Dentist (currently working in the USA)

Women are an integral part of society. Women are the mothers, the daughters, the lovers, the friends and the partners of men in every aspect of life. Women’s roles in forming and shaping the community are undeniably significant. A woman’s tremendous belief in the necessity of building a better world for her offspring is the main reason why women have been contributing to the well-being and peace in their societies over the ages.

But how can a woman build peace in her surroundings? Born and raised in Egypt, one of the oldest civilizations in the world, I was always amazed by the idea that, in this vast world, different people living in various places share the same thoughts and emotions, yet they have different perspectives. For myself, I always try to find common ground with others instead of looking for the differences. Because of my Middle Eastern-Muslim background, I sometimes find myself facing some difficulties and curious questions about my origins. I came to the conclusion that perfecting what you do and treating all people equally with a good heart would definitely convey a message of peace and friendship. Finally, putting a smile on your face is very helpful, as it is contagious.

Nobuko Ishino, Tokyo, Japan. Retired teacher

As vice chair of the Soka Gakkai Women’s Peace Committee, I have been involved in holding Culture of Peace forums over many years. These forums provide opportunities for women who have come to believe in the sanctity of life to share their experiences of learning to put aside their egos and offer compassion to those around them, and expand this network to their families and local areas. One woman having compassion, making the effort to listen to others and to understand their feelings, never building one’s happiness upon the misfortune of others, taking action to work for others, caring for the environment—all of these are important factors in building a culture of peace, and I believe it is important that we continue to confirm these points, time and time again.

In addition, we make sure each forum features a war experience. We must pass on the stories that show the misery and foolishness of war, especially to the generation of those who do not know war. “The solidarity of women is what will change the quality of civilization”—I take part in activities with this guidance by SGI President Ikeda in mind.