Youth makes a positive move for peace Students of WeSchool organize Global Peace Initiative 2015

Youth makes a positive move for peace​

Students of WeSchool organize Global Peace Initiative 2015​

With several parts of the world rocked by violent attacks and innocent people losing lives, and more recently a wave of debate on the need for being more accepting and inclusive, WeSchool students organized Global Peace initiative on the eve of the 26/11 attack on Mumbai. Towards sensitizing the youth of the need to recognize their role, WeSchool has been organizing a Global Peace initiative for the last three years. This is the fourth year and the focus is to felicitate people from various walks of life who have dedicated themselves to the cause of Peace in different ways and inspire youth towards taking note and making the effort to contribute to a peaceful world. Eminent persons from the world of journalism, cinema, television, politics and various fields joined WeSchool students in solidarity to send out a strong message of peace and harmony.

Prof Dr Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, WeSchool in his welcome note said, "The real weapon of the terrorist is hatred and fear that he invokes, the divides that he creates. Global Peace Initiative is one of our endeavors to sensitize the young citizens towards their role and responsibility in building a peaceful and multicultural world. Persons like Dr. Jockin Arputham ,Owais Shaikh ,Maya Shahni that keep peace and humanity alive, inspire youth to be assertive and nurture a positive and inclusive culture, are the real heroes and it is our privilege to honor them."

While Magsaysay Award winner Padmashri Dr. Jockin Arputham, President of National Slum Dwellers Federation of India; was felicitated for taking up the cause of eradicating poverty and social injustice and spread message of peace and communal harmony, Awais Sheikh, President of Indo-Pak Peace Initiatives and Attorney to Sarbjeet Singh ,was honored for his exemplary work towards strengthening Indo-Pak ties. ISRO was acknowledged not only for its technological feats but for adapting 150 villages for upliftment thereby contributing to India's growth and development. Javed Bashir was felicitated for bringing a confluence of India-Pak cultures through music and Maya Shahni, Founder of SAGE Foundation, for her unstinted efforts towards peace and women empowerment.

And finally there was Krishna Das, the lone man who has taken upon himself the mission to spread peace in the chaotic city of Mumbai. Krishna's beaming face is seen by thousands of commuters as he unflinchingly stands on one foot holding a placard giving a message of peace on a tiny road divider at the Juhu-Versova circle every morning, come sun, rain or thunder

Young Devika Mittal, Coverner of Agaz-e-Dosti, Freelance Writer on gender issues, peace & conflict and India-Pak relations, said, "Let's refuse to submit to the culture of hatred, intolerance and inhumanity. Even if your voice be a lone one, it is much stronger than a million voices of hatred for it is the ray of light in the dark tunnel."

Kia Scherr, Co-founder of One Life Alliance, who had lost her husband and only child in the terror attacks on Mumbai, appreciated the efforts made by WeSchool to engage students and spread awareness about unity and peace. "What is most needed in the world in these times is love. Celebrate the love of our shared humanity with respect for the dignity of our differences. Peace is created with trust and respect."

'We Wish You Peace' - witnessed eminent personalities from media, Bollywood, television, education, sports and corporate walking the ramp with children from Udaan and Don Bosco for the cause of global peace. More than 60 celebs that graced the ramp included Bollywood personalities like Ritesh Sidhwani, Bela Bhansali, Rohit Roy, Sonali Kulkarni, Amar Upadhyay, Anang Desai, Divyanka Tripathi, Suchitra Pillai, Jayathi Bhatia but it was Harshaali Malhotra, the little tot from the film 'Bajarangi Bhaijaan' that stole everyone's heart with her smiling face and cheerful disposition.

Beauty Queens and Models Alesia Raut, Urvashi Rautela, Zoya Afroz, Vartika Singh, joined Ace stylist Javed Habib along with Celebrity Chefs: Ajay Chopra, Ranveer Brar and others.

Sugandha Misra, Akshat Singh, Monali Thakur, Ashley Lobo and dance troupe entertained the audience that consisted of Diplomatic community based in Mumbai, corporate leaders, eminent citizens; media personalities that were present to express their solidarity with the Global Peace Initiative.

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