Peace Pals International

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The French Institute for Culture, “Institute Francais” and the Chancellor`s Office of German State Saxony-Anhalt collaborated in the 2014 competition called “Peace-Paix.” All ages and nationalities were welcome to participate. Participants were asked to reflect on the question: “What does Peace mean to you?” and to submit it in any form of artistic expression, such as: a painting,  film, music, sculpture or photograph.

The World Peace Prayer Society’s Munich office was asked to contribute artwork from children who participated in the 2013 Peace Pals International Annual Art Exhibition, which expresses  the message, May Peace Prevail On Earth.  Children’s artwork from 33 countries is on display this year at the town library of Magdeburg in Germany.

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Organized, Promoted and Reported by:  Simran Vedvyas,
Green Team Student Coordinator & Student at UAS Dubai

‘Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time.’– Lyndon B. Johnson

Peace matters today as wars and conflicts have spread to every continent. Every deed towards peace is important. The ESOL-UAS Green Team at The Universal American School, Dubai UAE successfully planned and showcased the edge by joining hands with global organizations like Eno Program, Peace Pals International and Peoples Climate March.  ‘The ENO Program (NGO)’ that has empowered 10000 schools in 157 countries to plant trees. Every September 21st trees are planted to celebrate the international day for peace. The program is now celebrating its10th anniversary.  17 million peace trees have been planted, with the aim to plant 100 million trees by 2017.

Enthusiastic students participated and supported the ‘Plant A Tree For Peace’ as they planted Tacoma trees in the school premises.  The Students also took a selfie beside the sapling with the message “I Plant A Tree For Peace”, which was then tweeted.

Another interesting highlight of the day was the ‘Ambassador of Peace tour in Dubai’.  This will be up throughout the week till 25^th September 2014 and is organized for the first time in UAE with the consent of Peace Pal International USA that encourages children from around the world each year to submit their artwork for the Annual Peace Pals International Arts Exhibition and Awards.  2014 being the 17^th Year celebration of spreading the message- ‘Right to Peace’, under the theme of the 2014 UN International Day of Peace.  The Program by World Peace Prayer Society, promotes the message- ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’ as a simple, universal expression to unite the hearts of all people in our common desire and hope for peace on earth. The Ambassador Peace Tour project will also be showcased at the “What Works Conference” organized by KHDA ( Knowledge and Human Development Authority) during this month. ( http://www.whatworks.ae/Pages/en/Programmeen.aspx )

Simran Vedvyas, the student Coordinator for the Event claimed that working to put up this exhibition was truly inspiring and interesting for her and she was further encouraged when Jules Lamore – Director Peace Pals International said- “Simran, I am so happy to hear from you and learn of your interest in promoting and sharing the Ambassador of Peace tour within Dubai.  This is quite wonderful and to hear from a young person such as yourself”.

On this special day, as a responsible youth she shares what inspires her–“Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great, you can be that generation” -Nelson Mandela .  

In her belief “Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations free. True peace with oneself and with the world around us can only be achieved through the development of mental peace.  It is important is that we each make a sincere effort to take responsibility for ourselves, each other and for the natural environment we live in seriously”. 

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IDP – Members of Melton Youth Club handcrafted and planted three ‘Peace Poles’ to commemorate the International Day of Peace, Charnwood, Melton, Leicestershire, ENGLAND

Youngsters handcrafted the Peace Poles themselves and put them outside St Francis Convent Club, St John’s Church and St Peter’s Church to illustrate different themes relating to peaceful issues. Each Peace Pole was blessed before being planted outside in a service of dedication.

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Children from Lahore-Pakistan participated in the Peace Art Work Competition on the theme 2014 “Right to Peace” organized by Peace Pals International. A Certificate Distribution Ceremony was held on 14th August 2014 along with that children celebrated the Independence Day. They dressed up culturally, folk dances were presented, Patriotic songs were sung, they represented different Provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, KPK, Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas).

It started with prayer, Bible Reading was from Psalms: 85, National Anthem was played. Later the role of Christians in Independence was elaborated to children and community members, role of women was briefed, how to play a positive role in the progress of Pakistan as minority Christians was discussed, real life experiences and examples were quoted in an interactive way.

Special prayer was said for Peace in this land as currently we are going through much unrest. A pledge was taken that we the Christians will carry on spreading peace and will be ray of hope in this darkness. Christians since 1947 after Independence played major roles in Education, Health, Military and in other fields of life and we will continue this, despite of many injustices, inequalities, persecutions and discriminations. We will keep our flag high as WE ARE PAKISTANI too.

Major highlight of the day was the Certificate Distribution Ceremony of the participants in Peace Art Work, certificates were sent by Peace Pals International. We are thankful to Jules Lamore who helped us throughout. We encourage to organize such events through which different countries can come to one place and be united for Peace.

“We are happy to see the other art work of children around the world and got inspiration and clear understanding of Peace,” said Tisha Rafique (a child participant).”We are thankful and happy to have the certificates”, said Samuel Farooq (other child participant). “Coming from a poor background, I am feeling very obliged that my daughter got this Certificate because I never thought of this as our resources and boundaries never allowed us to reach to that level, today I am feeling proud and accomplished, said a mother of one participant”.  “I am thankful and request Peace Pals and other organizations to arrange such events and activities in which children can portray their thoughts and ideas and through which this world gets connected and build relationship of love, unity, friendship and acceptance”, said Christina Patras (Founder, Children for Christ) .

I end up with the prayer that May Peace Prevail on Earth and in Pakistan.

Best Wishes,
Christina Patras

Please visit Peace Pals International to see this years winners and finalist on the web and on our Facebook page.

 

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Saiqa Kaur of New Horizon Kindergarten School in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan organized the children to participate in the 2014 – 17th Annual Peace Pals International Art Exhibition & Awards art contest with the UN IDP theme “Right to Peace.”

I belong to Pakistan and working with children since many years. Peace and interfaith Harmony were the main theme of our work. We are interacting with children in the field of Art for Peace (Painting, cultural songs, Cultural dances, cultural festivals, theater)

I was trying to conduct this art activity in many schools or design it in a art exhibition for peace especially for the children of deprived and excluded groups but unfortunately I did not got good response from schools because they are having first term exams and summer vacations were started so it was blank for me.

With the help of our women volunteers, Lok Vehar Organized this activity. Children were briefed about  them and they painted. At the end they told me very interesting stories about their paintings what they feel about it what they want to describe in their painting.   They don’t have clear idea of UNO but for them if we have peace in this world every were we will have flowers, butterflies, peaceful homes, sharing this is peaceful world for them.

I feel we are sewing peace seeds and there is high hope someday they will grow and become huge trees.

Regards,

Saiqa Rehmat
Lok Vehar Development Organization
Pakistan

www.peacepalsinternational.org

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7 Children from Lahore, Pakistan participated in the Peace Art Work here are the experiences, feelings and reflections of their thoughts which they had already portrayed through coloring the Peace as they perceived it, they were happy and excited while doing it as this was something they were doing it for the first time in their lives that they were Painting the Peace. They all talked to each other about Peace that how it works in their lives daily and by doing what (things)  will effect the world, how others will be influenced and get the message that they should say welcome to Peace in their lives.

So according to the Theme 2014 “Right to Peace” they started with blank pages with some lines on it to give a kick to their minds, later they come up with different ideas that what they will draw. They made Planet Earth with the heart and Divine Love coming out of each individual, drew Globe with Peace on it with love and different designs, painted all Religions together with hope of Friendship, acceptance, Peace and Rainbow covered all of them, butterfly, made flags of all countries with a Dove on it, made hearts, laughter’s, wrote messages on it in Urdu and English of May Peace Prevail on Earth, Hope, Peace on Earth and goodwill to mankind.

When it comes to reflections they happily wrote:

Fairy: “I enjoyed very much doing this art work, we were glad to make Peace signs and ask people to join us to make this possible”.

Angel: “I was excited to paint the Globe and was thinking can we all live in harmony and understand the Divine message of Love, Peace, togetherness and forget all differences?”

Sam: “I learnt the meaning of Peace by writing different words in my painting of Peace and Love”.

Shehwaiz: “While making and coloring heart, Peace and Smile I pledged not to fight and will try to be an instrument of Peace”.

Tisha: “I am happy to be part of this painting competition and was eager to know what others will make, I loved the Rainbows and wish we all get bright, beautiful and colorful like them”.

Neha: “I want and wish that what if we all live in Peace and have no borders and wars”.

Michael: “I want to be a Peace Butterfly, which live in everyone’s heart forever”.

Above are the reflections of gentle and pure hearts. Take care.

Christina

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