In conjuction with the NYC Parks and Recreation Department, the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run held a 'Children's World's Fair' at Cunningham Park in Queens.
A large intertnational team of Peace Runners gathered in Queens after the finish of a four month North American Peace Run and many other Peace Runs which are still happening all over the world this year.
We started the day with some introductions and songs from runners of various countries around the world.
Russian Folk Dance.
The children loved the presentation.
There were about 750 children from summer camps from all five Boroughs of New York City.
Some of the children made large colorful signs on the theme of peace and harmony.
The huge field area was filled with children and country booths for the children to explore.
The children visited many of the country booths and carried 'passports' to be stamped at each country.
Each country had its own unique stamp.
Geography lessons were included in some of the country presentations.
There was arts and crafts, facing painting, and colorful costumes and traditional dress.
Many fun games were offered to the children who thoroughly enjoyed it 'to boot'.
The children loved the many versions of racing as well.
The Italians offered soccer or European 'football' for the kids.
Various athletic skills were also enjoyed at some of the country booths.
Traditional dress added a very nice touch to the international flavor of today's events.
Bali and Nepal.
India.
Bengali natives.
Colorful Russian dress.
Czech 'flower children'.
Flowering Czechs and Slovaks.
Hridananda and Agraha become Vikings for an afternoon.
Kathy Oerter, one of our dear friends and coordinators in Florida, came up to NY just to attend some of our events and offer her cheerful goodwill and support.
British Royalty in attendance?
Henna hand art from India.
Happy Campers.
Children offered their wishes for Peace on large posters.
Playing some native instruments was a popular event.
Russian Balalika.
Clowns were on hand to keep the children amused as well.
The Peace Torch was passed around to all the children and adults alike.
Sharing the Peace Torch with fellow campers.
Waiting for their turn to hold the torch.
Peaceful thoughts.
Cheerful wishes.
Lots of big smiles.
Harita joins this happy camp for a photo.
Getting the passports stamped.
Can you guess which country this clown is from?
Running with the torch from country to country.
Ukraine and others hold the Torch in oneness.
Hungary is hungry for peace.
Odgiv happily represents Mongolia. He also ran a few weeks on the North American Peace Run.
Peace messages were offerd by many children.
Indian traditional bindis.
Colorful face painting was quite popular too.
The Australian nature quiz.
Heart-Art.
Passing the Peace Torch.
The traditional Bali Monkey Dance catches on.
Canadian clown basketball.
Devaki, the Canadian mupeteer.
Italy's peace fans.
English bisquits are a hit for hungry campers.
Some children received Torch Bearer Awards for their peaceful and generous demeanor and helpfulness to others throughout the summer.
The Torch Bearer Awardees were of many ages.
Harita presents the awards to the female recipients.
The children were chosen by their Supervisors to receive the Awards. Many of the children present today demonstrated beautiful qualities which can help to establish peace on Earth.
The staff members were proud of their children.
Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, Queens Commissioner of Recreation(with Torch), stands with Abanna Kalagian, one of the organizers of this event from the Peace Run. We are so grateful to Iris, Abanna, and their colleagues who helped to make this event a truly successful and memorable one.
Iris joins the colorful southeast Asian representatives. We are also grateful to some of the other Commissioners of Parks and Recreation who are not pictured here including: Veronica White of the Bronx, Dannette Lenninger of Manhattan, and Erin Vega and Malaika Green who were key coordinators for this event.
