Introduction

The Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) vision – mission boldly proclaims that as an educational community, it is committed to “forming men and women of God, men and women for others and serving as an agent of change in bringing about peace and development in the city, the region and the nation.” It further believes that “education is a process of formation that develops in the person the knowledge, skills, and orientation needed for a life of dedicated service.” Moreover, it believes that “its educational responsibility includes working for peace and progress particularly in Western Mindanao.”

Thus, ADZU, in its aim to provide quality education in this part of the country, saw the urgent need to integrate in its curricular offering the teaching of Peace Education as its way of making the kind of education it offers responsive and sensitive to the real problems and needs of the community.

The Peace Education Program of ADZU consists of two parts. The first part is the Orientation Towards Peace (OTP), the second part is the Transforming Hearts and Minds for Peace and Unity (THMPU).