Paint for Peace Party

(Suva – August 24) Children flocked to the Paint for Peace Party at the Hibiscus Festival today to draw, paint and say what peace meant to them.

This initiative is part of the build up towards the International Peace day, celebrated on 21 September and is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through it regional Strengthening Capacities for Peace (CPAD) project. Four volunteers from the University of the South Pacific (USP) are helping facilitate the Party under an agreement between USP and UNDP signed earlier this year when both organisations agreed to cooperate together in a number of areas.

“Peace and development requires building awareness among people of all ages about the importance of peace and ending the use of violence as a means of resolving conflict at all levels. The Paint for Peace Party provided an avenue for children and young people to paint what peace meant to them,” said the UNDP Conflict Prevent and Recovery Specialist, Janet Murdock.

The paintings and drawings from the Paint for Peace Party, as well as children’s and youths views will be included in a video that will be used as part of the advocacy for International Peace Day celebrations next month.

CPAD aims to bring together government and civil society actors to share experiences, discuss the difficult issues and begin to strengthen leadership and capacities for peace in the Pacific as well as advocate for peace.

ENDS

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