Zero-COVID measures and political and constitutional makeover have affected the community in superficial and fundamental ways. Social distancing has, over time, impacted not just queuing and seating arrangements but also economic activities and sense of belonging or isolation in the community. How do we build a community that is resilient enough to look beyond differences and to look out for one another in times of crisis? How do we develop innovative ideas for building our community?

The 2022 January cohort of Peace Fellows explored the possibilities of peace in Hong Kong in a series of workshops, facilitated discussions and community visits. They then worked with civil society organisations to identify opportunities and formulate actionable solutions to social issues.

Words from our Fellows
"
I would sum up this six-week experience with an ‘!’ – countless touching moments and innumerable inspirations, making it a great prelude to my 2022. Not only was I inspired by the new knowledge gained, but also all the new experiences. I am grateful to have met people from different backgrounds; their concern and passion for our society renewed my confidence in the future of Hong Kong and confirmed my belief that this is still a place worth staying.
"
　
　
"
‘Peace’ was a distant concept to me in the past. My understanding of ‘peace’ was once confined to ceasefire in international conflicts, and in a technically advanced and civilised world, ‘peace’ seems like a dated concept. The Peace Fellowship is like a pair of glasses that helps me see that peace is not an abstract concept. We are in pursuit of ‘peace’ in our everyday living – in our relationship with the environment, our interaction with family, and spiritual exchanges. ‘Peace’ has always been around us.
"
　
　
"
Everyone I met in the Peace Fellowship, including the Peace Generation team, mentors, and other Fellows, are supportive and passionate. Being able to learn and work with them is an invaluable experience.
"
　
　
"
We Fellows had a lot of ideas, preconceptions, and goals at the brainstorming stage of the Peace Lab, but each community visit and interaction with the community members inspired us to reimagine the possibilities of community experiment. It also kept our feet on the ground and led us to empathise with the needs of the local residents.
"
　
　
"
Big thanks to the Peace Generation team for providing us with plenty of support and freedom to experiment. It is a rare and precious opportunity in times like this.
"
　
　
"
I was hesitant about applying for the fellowship at first as I was worried about my lack of knowledge and the heavy workload. I am glad I have stepped out of my comfort zone. The Fellowship allowed me to connect and exchange views on different issues with peers from different backgrounds. The visits to community organisations have shown me that it is still possible to make a difference in our society. I used to think that there was nothing much I could do; now I feel empowered and confident to make an impact.
"
　
　
"
Peace is a process. It involves justice and love; it seeks to free the oppressed; it encourages understanding of each other despite differences in opinion. Peace not only exists at the macro societal level in the society, but also in the everyday communication between you and me.
"
　
　
"
After the Peace Fellowship, I see that peace itself is a process, not a destination.
Peace can happen anywhere if we respect and understand each other, spend time caring for our neighbours, and have honest conversations with ourselves.
"
　
　
"
Peace is a state of being; it is also an attitude.
We can only achieve peace if we adopt a peaceful and open attitude towards communication. And peace is not a binary but a spectrum – it takes the efforts of many stakeholders for our society to reach a relatively peaceful place.
"