Addis Ababa, June 16, 2024 (FBC) – The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) Global Region 2 organized the 6th International Loving-Peace Art Competition Preliminary Awards Ceremony at Addis Ababa in the presence of students and principals from various schools in the capital, the media, scholars and public representatives.
Director of Global Region 2, Seo-yeon Lee, announced that IWPG has undertaken the 6th International Loving Peace Art Competition in schools found in several parts of the world with a view to promote the essence of peace in the minds of children and make them part of the efforts to realize peaceful world.
This competition is part of IWPG’s initiative to spread a culture of peace around the world by planting the mindset of peace in the hearts of children and youth so that everyone can come together to realize world peace and cessation of war, the Director said.
Some 3,876 students drawn from 6 secondary and primary schools attended the 6th international loving peace art competition held in Addis Ababa.
Best achieving students in the competition were awarded with medals and gifts of teaching aid materials.
In her opening remarks at the Awards Ceremony, Director of the Gender Office Directorate of Addis Ababa University, Sewalem Tsega Agegnehu (PhD), stated that the efforts being made by IWPG Global Region 2 to promote the values of peace at school levels is commendable describing the initiative as a basis for creating peaceful world.
Ethiopia is currently implementing various national initiatives to ensure peace. And such event organized by IWPG Global Region 2 has a supportive role in the efforts to realize peace.
Saying that her directorate is working on peace initiatives, Sewalem affirmed he commitment to cement cooperation with IWPG Global Region 2 for future endeavors.
Martha Zenebe, a representative of the Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association, addressing the awards ceremony, pointed out that women and children are always the major victims of conflicts, and they also have the capacity in promoting peace if they are given the opportunity.
Martha called on all stakeholders to support the initiatives of IWPG and similar peace loving partners who are working to spread the virtues of peace among the community.
Obsa Diriba, Principal of Bisrate Gebriel International School, underscored the significance of working with women and school children in promoting the essence of peace, appreciating IWPG Regional 2’s efforts in this regard.
“Peace the basis for everything. I love the activities being carried out IWPG to build peace. I am sure that their initiative is poised to expand to other schools and institutions in Addis Ababa the country at large and bring the desired outcome. I want to assure IWPG Global Region 2 that we are always with you,” Obsa added.
Mekonnen Alemu, Sunyside School, Principal of Sunnyside Secondary School, for his part, noted that the students of his school have made great efforts to win the competition. He also expressed delight over some of his students’ achievement in winning the prize of the Loving-Peace Art Competition organized by the IWPG.
“The pictures drawn by our students can communicate the significance of peace to the entire world. And the competition has a great importance in motivating the students to engage in similar activities that would help ensure peace in the country,” he added.
On the occasion, Esther Kim, translator of IWPG Global Region 2, underscored that women have a soft power that is essential to leverage the potentials in the community to build peace. Esther called on all stakeholders to join hands in fostering peace.
Esther further called on all participants and all members of the community at large to join IWPG and work jointly with the organization for the realization of peaceful world.
IWPG is an international women’s peace organization registered as an NGO with special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and with the Department of Global Communications (DGC).
Headquartered in Seoul, Korea, IWPG works in solidarity with over 110 branches and 660 partner organizations around the world to promote active peace activities which are underway.
By Wondesen Aregahegn