'The Olive That Remembered' Teaches Children To Value Peace

By Nurhafizah Tan

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- For Norashikin Abdul Latiff, the experience of managing a community kitchen for war-affected families in the remote regions of Afghanistan left a profound emotional impact.

Having seen how the conflict had left deep psychological scars on the people, including children, who continue to live with trauma, she was moved to take action. The result was ‘The Olive Tree That Remembered’, a children’s picture book that delivers the message of peace.

The story is written from the perspective of an ancient olive tree that has stood through generations. It bears witness to the passage of time, from an era of peace through the devastation of war to the process of reunification of the community.

"Many of the children were so traumatised by the conflict that they would scream and run away whenever strangers approached, even though we had come only to offer humanitarian aid.

"The horrors of war had left lasting emotional scars on them. When I returned home, I realised that the importance of peace and empathy is a message we must share with our own children as early as possible," Norashikin, who is also director of corporate communications at Yayasan Restu, told Bernama.

The mother of five believes that awareness of human suffering should be nurtured from the preschool years so children grow up valuing peace.

She also expressed concern that repeated exposure to news about wars, disasters, bullying and human suffering could gradually dull children’s emotional responses.

"What once seemed shocking can eventually become normal in their eyes. That's one of the reasons I chose to do a printed book instead of a digital one… it is to encourage children to put their gadgets away for a while (and read the book).

"As parents and as a society, we may not be able to shield children from every harsh reality in the world. But we can help them understand those realities with wisdom, empathy and compassion.

"We need to teach them that behind every news headline is a family, behind every conflict is a child, and behind every statistic is a human life,” she said.

Through ‘The Olive Tree That Remembered’, Norashikin hopes to introduce children to the universal values of kindness, resilience, hope, peace and humanity, without delving into politics.

She said every aspect of the book, from its carefully considered dimensions to its colour psychology, was thoughtfully designed to help children stay focused while creating opportunities for parents and children to read it together.

Norashikin, who is also an experienced trainer in the field of education, believes stories have the unique power to help children understand difficult realities while nurturing resilience and hope.

"Education is not only about preparing children for examinations. It is about preparing them for life. Children who learn empathy today will become adults who build stronger families, more compassionate communities and a more peaceful world tomorrow,” she said, adding that proceeds from the sale of her picture book will be channelled into global humanitarian efforts, including relief programmes and medical initiatives that provide free healthcare for refugees in Malaysia.

Priced at RM69 each, the book is available at Restu Shop in Shah Alam and Putrajaya, and Twigs Bookshop.

To date, more than 600 copies of ‘The Olive Tree That Remembered’ have been sold. The book has also reached readers in countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Australia and Canada. A Bahasa Melayu edition is currently being printed and is expected to be available to local readers soon.

-- BERNAMA

'The Olive That Remembered' Teaches Children To Value Peace

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