Kindness Is Stronger Than Division

Today, I pause to celebrate something bigger than all of us.

For me, peace has always been the reason my family and I had to leave everything behind over 12 years ago. War is not a driver to survive, but peace is, as is the yearning voice inside of you to keep living and to thrive. Peace was the hope we held close to our hearts as we ventured into the uncharted, seeking safety and a new sense of belonging while we felt stuck.

The world will always have its moments of heartbreak. But what gives me hope is knowing that peace doesn’t have to wait for institutions to act. It begins with individuals, in homes and schools, in the way we treat refugees, in how we speak to our children, and in how we respond to those who are suffering. People make peace. And when we do it together, even the smallest actions can echo across generations.

We must build stronger education systems and safer communities, and elect leaders who choose empathy over fear. It means early dialogue and real efforts to prevent conflict before it begins. We need to give people the tools to resolve tension without turning to violence, and we need to start with our children.

And it begins with us; how we treat one another in our everyday lives and in our communities, and in the decisions we make when no one is watching. It begins with the choice to lead with empathy and to speak with intention. It begins when we give space to those who have been pushed aside, as a collective responsibility.

Every human being matters. When we uplift voices that have been silenced by war, poverty, discrimination, or displacement, we remind them of that.

Since our last Peace on Earth Society update and over the past year, at Peace by Chocolate, we have launched meaningful partnerships that helped us put this mission into action, supporting communities impacted by wildfires and uplifting those in need. We must continue to show that kindness is stronger than division.

Thank you, Canada, for proving time and again that peace is worth protecting. May we always strive towards justice and dignity for all.

Happy International Day of Peace, friends.