Valencia’s 2013 Peace Week Celebrations
ShareValencia is planning an exciting line-up of speakers, films and festivities to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Peace, on Saturday, September 21, 2013. Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. Some of the Peace Week events are highlighted below. For a complete schedule of events, including Carl Wilkens’ presentations and the film screenings schedule, please click here.
The Peace and Justice Initiative was recently awarded a grant that has helped the College to host guest speaker Carl Wilkens, humanitarian aid worker and author of “I’m Not Leaving.” Carl will be speaking at Osceola and East Campuses beginning on Wednesday, September 18, about his experiences as the only American to be in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide.
His non-profit organization, World Outside My Shoes, is committed to inspiring and equipping people to help build a peaceful world by seeing the “other” as yourself.
Valencia is proud to once again partner with the Global Peace Film Festival by offering free film screenings on September 19-20. Two of those films include a documentary about homelessness in Central Florida titled, “Take Me Home”, and “David”, a film about a young boy’s point of view as the son of the Imam at a Brooklyn mosque.
East Campus will also have Peace Day festivities, including crafts, music and poetry readings on Thursday, September 19. For more information, please click here.
Peace Week is supported by a grant from the United States Institute of Peace and Shuffield Lowman Attorneys and Advisors in partnership with the Peace and Justice Initiative, the Global Peace Film Festival and the HERO Club.
For more information about the Peace and Justice Initiative (PJI), and for a complete calendar of events for the 2013-14 academic year, visit the PJI webpage.
It is not enough to teach children how to read, write and count. Education has to cultivate mutual respect for others and the world in which we live, and help people forge more just, inclusive and peaceful societies. –UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
100-day countdown message to the International Day of Peace