Peace begins with each of us — with a thought, a word, an action, and a willingness to listen to one another. This important theme was at the heart of an event dedicated to the International Day of Peace, held at the Museum of Peace of Academician Stepan Demianchuk International University of Economics and Humanities (IUEH) on 21 September 2026.
The event was opened with welcoming remarks by IUEH Rector Vitalii Demianchuk, who emphasised that peace holds particular significance for everyone and for the University in particular. He noted that Stepan Demianchuk, the founder of IUEH, devoted his research to the study of peace and promoted the ideas of peace education among young people.
The event was attended by the University’s vice-rectors, deans, and academic staff from the Faculty of History and Philology, Faculty of Journalism, Faculty of Education, and Faculty of History, Geography and Tourism. Special guests included pupils from Rivne Lyceum No. 20 and the Centre for Children and Youth Creativity of the Kostopil City Council.
The participation of IUEH’s international partners from the United Kingdom was particularly valuable. John Strachan and Ian Gadd from Bath Spa University, as well as Richard Tomlins and Chas Morrison from Coventry University, joined the initiative to mark the International Day of Peace, sharing messages of support and wishes for peace. Their words became part of the shared story of the event and were represented through symbolic “dove of peace.”
An important part of the programme was a guided tour of the Museum of Peace, led by Andrii Levder, Dean of the Faculty of History, Geography and Tourism. Participants had the opportunity to explore the museum’s exhibitions and discover its unique artefacts.
A particularly meaningful atmosphere was created by IUEH students, who performed poetry and prose on the themes of war and peace under the guidance of Valentyna Myroniuk, Coordinator of the Museum of Peace. The programme featured works by renowned Ukrainian and international writers, as well as original poetry written by the participants themselves.
The audience was also addressed by Liliia Melnychuk, Coordinator of the International Pupils’ Public Readings “I Vote for Peace”, who invited school pupils to continue exploring the theme of peace through creative expression and to take part in the 2027 Readings.
The meeting concluded with a creative workshop led by Alina Kruhliak, Head of the International and Project Department. During the workshop, all participants created a symbolic dove of peace, adding words of gratitude to the defenders of Ukraine and messages of support for families who have experienced loss and for those who have been forced to leave their homes because of the war. The participants’ own reflections on peace, kindness and mutual understanding were particularly moving.
The University’s academic and teaching community has explored the theme of peace, promoting it through its educational, civic and community engagement activities for more than 30 years. Today, this tradition continues through communication, creativity, education, and joint initiatives with international partners and local communities. Together, these efforts help us speak of peace not merely as a dream, but as a value that is worth coming together to uphold.
The event was held as part of the activities of the IUEH Centre for Peace, Equality and Sustainable Development.