Axum (or Aksum) is an historic town in Northern Ethiopia, near the border of Eritrea.

Students singing during Peace Building class in Axum, 2008. Photo © R. Lett

The CNIS Peace Building course, originally developed and taught in the Gulu district of Uganda, was brought to Axum in 2008, after the course books were translated into Tigrinya, the local language. Starting at two elementary schools, this non-violent conflict resolution course is now taught to over two thousand grade-five students in eight elementary schools: Bazen, Axum, Ezana, Hawelty, Megabit 18, Abreha we Asbeha, Sunshine and Kindeya primary schools in the town of Axum and the surrounding areas.

Peace Building teachers from Axum 2009. Photo © R. Lett

Kindeya Primary school Peace Building class, Axum 2011. Photo © R. Lett

The Axum schools are also part of the Canada/Ethiopia Twinning Project, which aims to create friendship and cultural understanding between Canadian and Ethiopian elementary schools and pupils.