We are warmly inviting youth of all ages to submit pictures and short videos of their creative expressions for peace and their physical activities for peace as part of the ongoing program The Oneness-World International Youth Project.
The following submissions were collected for the International Day of Peace (September 21st).
Students from Japan have invited Canadians to respond to their artwork by reciprocating their wishes for peace in a similar way.
Submissions are received at youth@peacerun.org
We are honoured by your participation.
Please visit peacerun.org/ca/youth
Our first submission is a recording of a song written and performed by talented young songwriters at World Heart Beat Music Academy in London, United Kingdom. It is called "Champions of the World".
World Heart Beat Music Academy believes music is a universal form of communication that bridges cultural, political, social, economic and linguistic barriers. World Heart Beat takes young students who would not otherwise be able to learn music and gives them the opportunity to learn an instrument.
The One Voice Children's Choir from the United States of America has submitted a song that they have dedicated to all of the essential workers, teachers, and parents during this world-wide pandemic. It is a cover of the Alicia Keys song, "Good Job".
One Voice Children's Choir began in 2002 at the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City Utah, from these humble beginnings the One Voice Children's Choir has grown to become a household name on a mission to spread hope, joy and love through their original arrangements of popular music.
This poetry and story presentation is by eleven students from the class entitled Intercultural Communication at Gunma Prefectural Women’s University, Japan, which is a member institution of the United Nations’ Academic Impact.
They told the story of Japan’s Peace Bell at the United Nations Headquarters, which is used to 'ring in' the International Day of Peace. They also recited two poems by the Peace Run Founder Sri Chinmoy on the theme of peace.
The following artwork and poetry submissions are by the students from this class.
Remi Iizuka
"For me, peace is as powerful and beautiful as a tree.
Each leaf has a different color, it shows that no one is the same, but each one is beautiful and important.
There is a cherry blossom that represents Japan in the letter E.
There is a maple leaf that represents Canada in the letter C.
The rainbow in the letter A is a symbol of LGBT and expresses the wish for gender equality.
In the letter E which is purple one, I drew a starry sky and expressed that if you look up at the sky, everyone is connected and feel oneness heart .
In the center, I drew a dove, which is a symbol of peace."
-Airi Kawamura
"I'm happy I can participate in this project. I draw a pink rose in the middle of the poster because I wanted to use Sri Chinmoy's poem. Also, I draw various color hands to express stop racism."
-Haruka Sato
"For me, one of the meanings of peace is "love". So, I wanted to send my love from Japan to Canada. And when I was thinking about how to deliver it, I came up with a way to deliver it with a origami crane. Also, many of these flags indicate that the origami crane will stop by various countries on its way from Japan to Canada to spread my love. I wanted to tell my message about peace to the world, and my friends in Canada. That's why I drew this poster."
-Yuka Yasuda
"I made a poem to express my feelings for peace.
At the top and bottom, I drew olive leaves which mean peace.
In the yellow heart, I put the national flag of Canada and Japan.
At the back of the poem, I drew hands.
I used different colors because there are various kinds of people all over the world.
I enjoyed thinking about what peace is and expressing it."
-Sae
"I drew this picture with the message that Canada and Japan play the center role and spread the peace to other countries. I hope all of the people in the world think that they are happy from their inners."
-Arisa
Professor Harashita invited Brahmata to speak to the students from her Intercultural Communication course on a video call to introduce them to the Peace Run. There was a good conversation and each of the students asked very insightful questions.
"I expressed the world peace with no racism by drawing 5 hands in different colors, shaping a peace mark. Also, I wrote the word PEACE in rainbow color because as well as LGBT rainbow flag, these 6 colors represent peace. the two pigeons and plants are the symbols of peace. On the very bottom, I drew a peace mark rainbow to emphasize the connection of these 5 hands all together."
-Kaho Oka
"I wanted to express my thought that if many
love and warm hearts fill the earth, this world
will be more peaceful, and I wish there are no
discrimination by skin color."
-Nanase Koyama
"I hope everyone in this world shape peace together!"
-Rio Shinada
- M.Y.
"I thought "connection" is important so I drew every kind of people holding hands to each other to describe it. And national flags are describing connection with countries. Also I put my own word "Peace will come when we all feel connected with our heart and people". Rainbow is the symbol of LGBTQ that I illustrated hope for gender equality. Earth with heart-shaped peace mark shows inner peace. I learned from Sri Chinmoy's poem that peace comes from inside but not outside. It shows a hope for peaceful world."
-Tsukino Ohata
Thank you so much to everyone who shared their art, poetry and music for peace. We are wishing everyone a very happy International Day of Peace.
Please feel free to send in writing, photos and videos of your creative expressions of peace or your physical activities for peace!
