War Toys for Peaceful Joys 2
In line with the celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace 2011, the Ateneo Peace and Culture Institute (APCI), in partnership with the Peace Advocate Zamboanga (PAZ) and Ateneo High School, will once again host an outreach project entitled War Toys for Peaceful Joys on December 07, 2011, Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall, LRC Building, Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
The APCI and PAZ believe that the tendency to violence is partly caused by environmental conditions that are rife with war toys and violence in multimedia. Thus, this project aims to inspire children to live a life of non-violence and to show that a peaceful alternative is more beneficial for everyone in the long run.
Forty five pupils from Grades 4, 5 and 6 of Arena Blanco Elementary School, Southcom Elementary School and Mariki Elementary School shall engage in this activity. They are asked to bring two or more of their war toys like toy guns, swords, knives, tank models, army men, action figures, laser guns and other gadgets of destruction. These will then be traded for educational toys, bags, and school supplies.
ADZU Students and the Youth Solidarity for Peace Volunteers will also be sharing the experience of fun and learning as facilitators for the said activity.
All traded war toys will be gathered and later be converted into an installation art. This peace art will serve as an advocacy for non-violence and will be exhibited during the National Arts Month on February.
Through this project, the organizers seek to inspire children to finish their studies and help make a difference in the future. It is also a shared dream that this simple act of kindness will ripple out and inspire other acts of kindness which, with God’s grace, encourage change, promote peace, and foster development.
