Being part of this project marked a before and after in my life. Not just because of what I learned, but because of what we experienced as a community. It filled me with joy to see that we included people from our surroundings, that we managed to add up, and that, little by little, we were generating real changes. Knowing that we were support for others gave me meaning and purpose.

As a volunteer and participant, I felt very happy, especially during the campaigns, camps, and activities we carried out. They were spaces where I knew for sure that we were making a change. Seeing the children and young people in our communities improve their behavior, move away from violence, and live together in peace was very significant.

I also changed. I felt my leadership grow, my ability to communicate and respect those around me improve. Volunteering at the YMCA center allowed me to take an active role and be seen in my community as someone trustworthy.

After participating in the non-violence promotion day, I made a personal commitment: to be a peaceful person, support my community, and practice coexistence with respect. It wasn’t just a promise: I’ve seen how I and many others have changed our behavior, especially in public spaces, where we now interact more consciously.

What I liked most about the project was sharing with other communities: playing, listening, learning, and talking about what good treatment is. Feeling that we contributed something and seeing that this contribution leaves a mark.

I hope we can continue talking about mental health, self-esteem, and conflict resolution. It would be wonderful to have projects that help us grow from there as well.

This project taught me that peace is built every day, in community, and with small actions that, together, make a big difference.