The Peace Tree Club Presents Literary Workshop at the CNE

On Sunday July 29th, our youngest members of The Peace Tree Club carried out a literary presentation at the Masala! Mehndi! Masti! festival at the CNE in Toronto. It was a wonderful event where Aiishwariya, one of the actors in The Peace Tree, read the book Sweet Samosa and The Peace Book. The children shared their views about what Peace means to them and created a Peace Tree at the festival. The Peace Tree Ambassadors included Priyana, 3, Jasaon, 5, Talina, 5and Aiiswariya, 10. Everyone really enjoyed the presentation and we now have some new Peace Tree Ambassadors who have joined the Peace Tree Network so we keep growing and spreading peace!

The Peace Tree Centre at Henry Kelsey

Welcome to our PeaceTree Centre at Henry Kelsey Senior Public School.

Peace Tree Stand--June 2nd

On Saturday June 2, 2007, a group of pre-schoolers and kindergarten students set up a Peace Tree Stand and sold drinks and treats from different cultures in order to raise funds for Free the Children. A group of Gr. 7 students worked with the little children to share workshops that reflected peace and diversity. They were able to raise $500 with which they were able to buy 5 goats and medical supplies for children and families in the war-torn area of Sierra Leone. The children were delighted to be able to help other children around the world to have a better life and future. Find out how you can help too. Visit http://www.freethechildren.org/.

Peace Tree Club Photos-2

Peace Tree Club Photos

A Peace Tree for your Organization, Business or Hospital

Many organizations, business and hospitals are becoming aware of The Peace Tree Spirit and would like to have a Peace Tree created for their institution. Students in schools are becoming more and more aware of the challenges faced by many children around the world and realize the need to assist those who are underprivileged.

By researching and creating a set of Peace Tree symbols (made from paper mache, Fimo, wooden cutout pieces), children can present the symbols to an organization, business or hospital that is interested in creating their own Peace Tree. After researching a charity of their choice, the students can donate the symbols to the institution and the institution in turn will donate $200 to $500 (depending on the size of the organization), to the charity of the students’ choice. Up to fifty dollars will go towards the school to cover the cost of supplies and the remainder to the charity. The institution will purchase the tree that will be turned into a Peace Tree.

Once the symbols are complete, students can visit the institution, do a presentation about the importance of the Peace Tree and decorate the symbols on the institutions tree. To inaugurate the Peace Tree students can sing the Peace Tree song and share and celebrate the Peace Tree Spirit with all the employees!

Postcards--2

Postcard

Postcards--1

Postcard Exchange Project

Peace Tree Club Photos-1

Photos from our Peace Tree Club.

The True Meaning of PEACE

Hello! Ni Hao!

Today I want to share a story I experienced in China when I was a little girl.

Unfortunately, there is a long history between Japan and China, and many older generations don’t like Japan. Even the smallest part of it.

When I was in China, I was a little angry after I heard about Japan. I still remember that scary unbelievable moment.

“What are you folding, Kalin?” Asked my old homeroom teacher. “A paper crane from Japan. It represents peace, right?” My teacher’s face suddenly looked very angry. She pushed my hands away and dumped my little paper crane into the garbage bin. Later, she did say sorry to me, but she also taught me a lot about how the Japanese people hurt the Chinese. And from that day on, I started to hate Japan, even through sometimes I would like their food or clothing… But I still couldn’t forgive them.

Then one day, I met a young girl through the Peace Tree Club. Her name is Eisa, and we got along really well: we both like music, and we help each other. After, I found out she came from Japan, and I thought, I can’t still keep that kind of hatred inside me, and we became best friends. I learned now, when you are born, you are born with an opened mind, but when you grow up, many people will teach you negative things, so you have to be able to decide, whether they are right or wrong and use your own mind. Usually, you can feel what’s right in your heart.

I think I learned a lot in Canada, through the Peace Tree Club, and from my friends. I am sure some of you don’t understand the importance of the Peace Tree Club; But when you think about what is going in the world, you may begin to understand why it is important for each of us to create peace.

Like the great peace leader Mahatma Gandhi once said: Be the change you want to see in the world. WE ARE BEING THAT CHANGE!
Kalin Mo, 12

Canada Means PEACE

Hello, my name is Israa. I’m from Palestine. I like Canada very much because there is a lot o fighting in Palestine. Everyday, I was scared to live in Palestine. I couldn’t go outside to play, I couldn’t walk on the street because I would always be afraid. I would be killed. But here in Canada, everyone is free and we fell so lucky to live in such a peaceful country. This is like a dream for us. In Palestine, when we were in the school, my teacher taught us about Israel and she said Israel is very bad country. She drew a Star of David and she put on a very big ‘X’. But I felt in my heart something was wrong when she told us this. When I came to Canada, I saw a very different world. When I go to school, I learned a lot of things about peace. I always call my friend in Palestine. I said to them not all of the Israel people are bad and we have to create peace in the world. They laugh at me and they said peace? What is peace? They said that because there are no peace in Palestine and Israel. I also saw different people from different countries living together and making friends with each other in Canada, and I think that is wonderful. In that case, we have people from all over the world living together in one country in peace.

By Israa, 12.

From Palestine To Canada

Anas’s Speech

Hi, salaam alaykom everybody. My name is Anas, I’m from Palestine. I came to Canada on June 5th, 2006.
When I was in Palestine, one day my friend told me: “Come with me to write on the wall about Israeli soldiers. But I refused because I didn’t think it was a good idea. I remember when the President of Palestine came to my city. It was a wonderful time because he was seriously looking for peace. One day I asked my friend: “ Why do you hate Israeli people?” He said because they come to our country every night and shoot everywhere. And then I said to him: if we think like that, we can never make peace around the world. Also, even though peace only has five letters, it has huge meaning. We can share together, we can help each other, we can love each other, and we can make friends with each other.

By Anas, 13.