International Women’s Peace Group fosters peace through art, engaging over 400 children in Victoria’s St. James Primary School
On 10 May, the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG Victoria) hosted the 6th International Loving Peace Art Competition locally in Victoria at St. James The Apostle Primary School in Hoppers Crossing, encouraging more than 400 children to dream of a world of peace and express it through art. In its sixth consecutive year, this esteemed competition continues to captivate and involve more than 12,000 youths annually from 52 different countries across the globe.
As revealed by the 2022 Youth Survey carried out by Wyndham City Council, in our diverse neighborhood, nearly half of our population, at 47.4%, comes from overseas. Yet amid this, there is a collective need toward mental well-being for youth. Among adolescent experiences, bullying casts a long shadow, with a quarter of respondents reporting its presence, where 83.6% of reported incidents occurred in schools. In addition, youth crime incidents plague the Wyndham community, with recent incidents of stabbings, school brawls, and burglary.
The International Loving Peace Art Competition aims to address these challenges from a young age through the pivotal role of early intervention, seeking to empower our primary school students to be agents of change within our community. Through the medium of art, students will delve into themes such as peace, empathy, understanding, respect, and conflict resolution. The participants of St. James The Apostle Primary School will not only discover the meaning of fostering a culture of peace but will also come to understand that it depends upon the creation of an environment where peace can flourish. As children immerse themselves in the creative process, the seeds of peace take root not only in their hearts but also in the hearts of their parents, fostering a ripple effect of understanding and compassion throughout our community.
In accordance with the principles in Article 10 of the DPCW (Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War), this competition emerges as a platform for cultivating the ethos of peace. Rooted in the wisdom echoed in the UNESCO constitution, which asserts that “since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defenses of peace must be constructed,” this initiative underscores the urgent imperative of nurturing a culture of peace.
We call upon all members of our community to support peace education in our schools to build a safer, more harmonious environment for future generations. Together, let us paint a brighter future for our community.
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