July 2008

Peace Gang continues to meet on the first Saturday of the month. They are getting ready for the big event in the Peace Gang calendar – International Peace Day !! It was wonderful to see how much time and energy not only the kids, but also their parents – especially the mothers have been putting in right now to make this event a success !!

At this event, Peace Gang hopes to highlight the importance of peace in this beautiful and colorful world of ours by creating a mini ‘world’ !! Presently the kids and their parents work in groups with the assigned continents. They are busy getting ready with the national costumes, food and other facts & figures from the countries they have chosen along with lot of fun events for the day. The adults as well as the kids find immense joy in helping each other, sharing and working together not only in their own groups but also with the other groups. Helping others also has the direct effect of increasing our personal peace and well-being, the foundation to promote peace in our communities and in the world. Await more news about this special day !!

This month’s Peace Gang meeting saw the launch of the first activity in preparation for the International Peace Day. Children got together to colour the flags of the countries respective groups have chosen. They enjoyed the ‘colouring session’ which started after the usual rituals - hoisting of the Peace Flag and singing the Peace Song.  They were also taught some new songs to be sung at the Peace Day celebrations.

Peace is a gradual and wonderful event that occurs. We help the children in the Peace Gang to become compassionate people who would help others discover the joy of peace!

June 2008

It was time for us, the Peace Gang, to meet once again; this time, to celebrate Wesak and Poson festive season. We met at the school premises on 7th June evening, to spend time with 25 children from ‘Samanala Home’ in Homagama. Originally they are all from war torn towns in the North and the East of Sri Lanka. They have lost one or both parents and their homes due to the civil conflict in Sri Lanka.

We started off with the usual self introductions, hoisting of the Peace Flag and singing the Peace Song. Next we were treated to a wonderful session of ‘Bhakti Gee’ from our friends of Samanala Home. Together with them, we lit the oil lamps and the lanterns in the school premises. We all sat down to a scrumptious diner with the visitors. We had a great time playing games and singing songs together. We bid good bye to our friends wishing them peace.