Around 500 Students Participated, Expressing Peace Through Art
The International Women's Peace Group (IWPG) Global Region 2, led by Regional Director Seo Yeon Lee, recently announced the successful conclusion of the preliminary round of the 7th International Loving-Peace Art Competition, held in 11 schools across the Iringa and Arusha regions of Tanzania, with the participation of over 500 students.
In the Iringa region, schools such as St. Dominic Savio Primary School, Richer International School, and Garilenya Girls’ Secondary School participated, while in the Arusha region, institutions including Angelique Primary School, Globally Primary School, and Hayatu Primary School took part. Students from these schools showcased a variety of vibrant artworks capturing their unique perspectives on the theme of “peace.”
This year’s competition was held under the theme “What Can We Do to Achieve Peace?”. Participating students creatively expressed the meaning of peace from various perspectives, including a world without war, respect for different cultures, and the protection of the global environment.
The “International Loving-Peace Art Competition” is an international event hosted annually by the IWPG in major cities around the world. It is an educational and cultural project designed to help children and youth imagine a peaceful world and express it through art, while learning about the necessity of ending war and the value of a culture of peace.
This year's Tanzania preliminary round was held with the aim of encouraging active social participation among local youth by combining peace education with art, and spreading the message of peace to the local community and the international society through the winning artworks.
On the day of the event, local faculty members and teachers also participated, adding to its significance. Assistant Professors Mkanibwa Magoti Ngoboka from Ruaha Catholic University shared her impression, saying, “The peace seen through the pure eyes of children was more sincere and moving than that of adults,” and added, “It reminded us once again that education and art are key elements in achieving peace.”
Regina Frederick, an elementary school teacher and Chair of the Peace Committee, said, “The very process of children drawing pictures on the theme of peace is an excellent form of education,” and added, “I hope opportunities like this will continue, so that the peace they imagine can be put into practice in their lives.”
IWPG plans to hold an awards ceremony on the 16th at the “Africa Children’s Day Celebration,” featuring outstanding works selected through judging. The selected artworks will be exhibited in collaboration with Tanzanian government agencies and will also be actively used as educational and promotional materials to spread the message of peace.
Meanwhile, IWPG is a globally recognized women’s NGO registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC). With 115 branches in 122 countries and 808 partner organizations in 68 countries, IWPG pursues the vision of “achieving sustainable world peace” through activities such as expanding solidarity, spreading a culture of peace, providing peace education for women, and advocating for the legal adoption of the “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).”
