The event took place in the southern part of Ethiopia, a country located in the Horn of Africa, and the second-most populous nation in Africa with over 82 million inhabitants. It was the little township of Sodo Buee that was host, a town situated at the very edge of the start of the Great Rift Valley, 103km away from the capital city, Addis Ababa. The spectacular views of this, the Gurage people’s mountainous region, begins from the town itself and the mountain ranges and their valleys stretch hundreds of kilometres.
Gurage is an ethnic group in Ethiopia. According to the 2007 national census, its population is 2.53% of the total population of Ethiopia. The Gurage people inhabit a fertile, semi-mountainous region in southwest Ethiopia, bordering the Awash River in the north, the Gibe River (a tributary of the Omo) to the southwest, and Lake Zway in the east.
The Ambassador of Peace Tour, featuring the beautiful and poignant art work of children in a complete set of 67 art works, from 63 countries, was displayed at Sodo Buee Senior Secondary School and has seen by many visitors. The children, ranging in age from 5-16, have given and shared expressions in harmony with the Universal Message of Peace: “May Peace Prevail on Earth” through their love of art and desire for peace.
In addition to the exhibition our visiting Convergence of Cultures team handed over several books and posters presented by GOETHE-INSTITUT of Addis Ababa & the Interfaith Peace-Building initiative (IPI) to the school library. Interestingly, the programme ended with a football match, the host school versus the visiting team, and the result was a draw 1-1, our team got the golden trophy.
Peace Pals fosters understanding and respect for the diversity and oneness of the human family and the natural world through its various and creative activities. By nurturing inner peace and global awareness in these leaders of tomorrow, Peace Pals aims to help create a future in which peace and harmony are a way of life.
