The Peace Run Team arrived at Taman Merdeka Garden to the eagerly awaiting crowd from 11 primary schools in Johor Bahru. Bandana led the team to the stage franked by some 4 hundred smiling children and teachers.
For the fourth year since 2012, SKIJ Convent Primary was delighted to play host to the event. They organized everything for us. Our heartfelt gratitude to all the dedicated teachers, students and its principals for their untiringly and self givingly contribution to our event.
Everyone joined in the warm up exercise led by the senior girls of Convent Primary.
Even the VIPs joined in the fun.
Teachers from various schools were also very participative.
"Peace begins with me and it starts in the heart of every individual." - A simple but significant message from founder Sri Chinmoy.
"May each and every individual each day have a new dream of world harmony." -Sri Chinmoy.
Peace Run President Salil Wilson introduced the team to the audience.
We played country guessing games with the curious young audience. Many of them could guessed the answers quite easily.
2 girls from Convent Primary School were proudly demonstrating the actions to the World Harmony Run song on stage.
As always in every occasion, our friend from the Republic of Slovakia, Vladmir, teased the audience with some very funny mime acts with 2 young volunteers.
Everyone laughed at the jokes on stage.
Country Coordinator Urdhacheta Yap presented a token of appreciation to the headmistress of Convent Primary School, Puan Maselah Binti Mohd Tahir.
Convent Secondary School Choir entertained the crowd with some very beautiful songs. They are amongst the best school choirs in the whole of Malaysia.
The audience remained spellbound by the musical performance.
And the Run begins with many young children ready to sprint to the finish.
Our tall friend from Brazil led the run.
Many participants were so eager to get a picture with our international team members.
Selfies, wefies and sufies?
A Malay cultural dance was presented in beautiful attires. The international team could not get the eyes off the stage.
Our Guest of Honour, Tuan Ab Hafith Bin Ismail received the Peace Torch.
We took many group pictures to remember this grand and meaningful event.
Coordinating teacher from Convent Primary, Ms Raihan, was very helpful in ensuring that everything went well. She had a great team of teachers and students to relied on.
Our team members were presented with medals and gifts for our visit. We like to take the opportunity to thank all the participating schools for this wonderful event. They are:
SK Sri Tebrau
SK Taman Tun Aminah
SK(P) Jalan Yahya Awal
SK Temenggong Abdul Rahman 2
SK(P) Sultan Ibrahim
SK Ayer Molek
SMK IJ Convent
SJK (C) Foon Yew 2
SK Larkin 1
SK Taman Anggerik
SK Bandar Uda 2
We hope to come to visit your schools someday.
After a long day, Nandita could not resist a massage chair which says 'out of service'. One sign for the chair and another for her, it seems.
A big Thank You to all the participating schools in Johor Bahru. We shall be back.
Torch carried by Ashirvad Zaiantchick(Brazil),
Harashita Sunaoshi(Japan),
Nandita Polissar(United States),
Salil Wilson(Australia),
Urdhacheta Yap(Singapore),
Vladimir (Russia),
Yuri Khraputsky(Belarus).