In today’s perspective, literacy does not mean about the writing and reading capabilities only. It has gained a broader meaning. It claims to guide people towards awareness and the change which is needed in order to achieve a better way of living.

Illiteracy is a burning question today in India. It should be eradicated root and branch to make our life happy and prosperous. To eradicate this problem and to bring about social, economical and political improvements. All educated persons and students should join hands together in all possible ways.

An initiative was taken by the Rotarians of PCMC, Pune in this direction. Walkathon (Walk for Literacy) was organized on Sunday, 15th February 2015 by 6 clubs of Rotary, Pune. 3500 students from 14 different schools had participated in the event. This event was supported by many cooperation’s and clubs including Youth Peace Foundation.

Youth Peace Foundation with an aim of spreading ‘Culture of Peace’ for every individual being on this planet conducts event with any social pretext that can help create awareness about the Message of Peace the basic and fundamental need of all of us. Few out of many youths who have practically experienced that peace themselves are devoted for this gentle as well as noble cause under the banner of YPF.

The youth of YPF Pune conducted an even ‘Medicine for Peace’ at Om Hospital on 1st Feb., 2015 in association with Lions Club, Agarwal Club and a newspaper Soneri Maharashtra. Om Hospital is the first one to have Laparoscopic and endoscopic facilities. This event had the facility of free check-up for blood-sugar, ECG, cholesterol, bone density, PFT etc. in which around 300 people got benefited.  Consultation was free.

YPF volunteers had an Information Desk at the entrance letting people know about YPF, its goal and awareness campaigns for peace through humanitarian and various interesting activities. One local news channel took an interview of the YPF volunteers. Dr. Ashok Agarwal who himself is involved in social activities & arranges health check up frequently said, “YPF team is doing an excellent job and service. The awareness about peace is very clear and inspiring.

People who were the part of the camp appreciated YPF team members.

 

Youth Peace Foundation conducted an event: ‘Peace Wishing Tree’ and ‘Signature Campaign’ in KPP Mall, Pune on the very New Year day, January 1, 2015. This attracted the youth and others too who came to celebrate New Year. They wrote their views on ‘What is peace for you?’, ‘How will you bring peace in the world?’ and the Peace resolution ‘What will you do to make 2015 more peaceful?’.

This place is so famous that on this day a huge crowd visited for the whole day. Even foreigners visit this place for purchasing and enjoying. The point where Peace Wishing Tree and Signature Flex were placed was such that as soon as one enters one gets attracted to it. People came and asked the volunteers about the activity. The volunteers informed all about YPF.

New Year Message video from our International Key-note speaker Mr. Prem Rawat was played. Everyone was astounded by his message of peace.

More than 450 people participated and more than 1000 did know about YPF in detail. Many people expressed their desire to join YPF and many wanted this activity to be organized at their places. The Manager and the staff of the mall were very impressed by the activity management and essence of the Message of Peace.

The grand Mayor’s Marathon event was conducted on 21st December, 2014 by Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) having many unique and attractive activities including the event “Walk for Peace” too. The total number of participants for walk were 65 , whereas the total number of participants for the whole event were 5000. The ‘Walk’ gave a message to the audience – peace  begins with all of us but with a step taken towards it individually, and thus bringing peace for all in the world. Bharat Ratna Mr. Sachin Tendulkar  and Manchester United and Arsenal Football Legend Mikael Silvestre were the chief guest. Milind Soman participated in the full marathon. It was a beautiful & quite new experience while participating into marathon as a ‘peace walk’. Arrangements from VVCMC were very impressive. Volunteers of our team were really motivated. The audience were very keenly looking at the ‘messages of peace’.  The programme was live telecast by the Signet Digital Cable Service. It  would make very positive impact on around 1.5lakh viewers. The walk was covered by many media persons & was even published in Samarthan newspaper on 23rd December.

Pablo Picasso rightly said: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of every day’s life.” Materializing the quote, an exquisite event by Youth Peace Foundation was organized at BP Marine Academy, Belapur, Navi Mumbai on 9th & 10th Dec, 2014. ‘Art for Peace’ & ‘Music for Peace’ activities were organized for the students of Marine Engineering. The Chairman of the institute appreciated and praised the programme and the initiative taken for PEACE by the youth. He further mentioned about the stress, anxiety and pressure on students and how the program can help them. At the same time, the enthusiasm and the spirit of participants were splendid. In the beginning organizers thought that only a handful participants will turn up but later there were multitudinous participants who enjoyed the new experience and expressed themselves through their music and paintings. Students also mentioned about their unique experience enjoying the event and acknowledged the Message of Peace.

“Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up.” – Pablo Picasso

 Peace is an experience within. It can be expressed in Art. Though an art has no words yet conveys as well as touches the heart and mind in such a subtle way that one gets full with feelings and emotions.

The whole creation is an art of the Almighty comprising of all the essential ingredients to provide contentment and peace to all the human being who wish to accept these.

Children are just like the crystal clear clean water. You can color it in any color you want. So, how beautiful it would be if they are colored in the color of Peace.

To accomplish it the Youth Peace Fest organized an event on ‘Art for Peace’ at Nigadi, Pune on Thursday, 16^th November, 2014, where students from various schools came and participated along with their parents. Two groups were made. One was between 4-8 and the other one between 9-13 years.

A drawing competition on ‘Art for Peace’ was conducted. Every participant was so whole heartedly enjoying the event that they didn’t wish to make it over. All danced and rejoiced for Peace.

For the parents the DVD of YPF event at Rohini, Delhi was shown. They were overwhelmed seeing it.

The event was also covered by the media. Three students from each age group were awarded for the best performances.

Every Child Deserves a Chance at Life

 Peace dwells in the heart of every human being. Experiencing and feeling peace do not depend on anything except breath coming in and going out. That is, one has to be alive and in a position to understand the things.

It is an absolute and abstract thing independent and free from all the concepts and limitations.

Being underprivileged is no hurdle in realizing and experiencing peace. Peace is an inherent virtue of one and all irrespective of age, ability, education, culture etc.

Youth Peace Fest is pacing fast and taking the message and culture of peace to every corner of the world.

In this humble and persistent effort, YPF conducted events for ‘Write for Peace’ and ‘Art for Peace’ at Sharda Ashram, Shirgaon, Pune for underprivileged students on 14^th November. This ashram is a home cum school for such children and provides food and education to the independent children (society calls orphan).

Everyone in the ashram welcomed and appreciated this unique approach as well as initiative to make people aware about peace, especially children who are the gems of the society and future of mankind. 350 students between the age group of 4 to 15 years participated and expressed their original views and thoughts in words as well as in form of art on the necessity and importance of peace. Everyone was enthusiastic and eager to know more with a commitment to cooperate fully and think about peace in their lives.

The importance of peace is being recognized by all wherever this initiative was taken and people got an opportunity to know about it by any means.

“Let there be peace on earth. And let it begin with me.”-Seymour Miller & Jill Jackson

Blind lacks the sight and not the vision!
This became evident when the International blind musical orchestra “The Udaan Musical Band” performed in the Queen Captain Auditorium, Mumbai on the occasion of Golden Jubilee and Diwali celebration of National Association for the Blind (NAB) Mumbai, Maharashtra on Saturday, 18th October.

In this event ‘Music for Peace’ jointly organized by the Youth Peace Foundation and the Tear’s Foundation, all the singers were blind and their talent forced other blind audience to dance on their feet off the floor.

Each year around 150 Blind students from different parts of the state join and stay in this institution and receive education along with some elementary trades, which later lead them to some kind of vocational rehabilitation. However, isolation from the mainstream and being in that particular domain make their life monotonous.

This event was organized in an attempt to bring smile on their faces and rejoice the moment just before leaving for Diwali vacation.

Among the dignitaries present were Shri S Z H Zaidi (IAS), Executive Director, and Mrs. P. E. Toradmal, Superintendent and Principal, The NAB Workshop for the Blind.

This world has been in a phase of turmoil and turbulence and so is the human being, though the people have ever been busy in discoveries and inventions to accomplish a long, comfortable and luxurious life; but the human being has been overlooking the call of peace and true happiness knocking from within and thus very few percent of the entire population of the earth could do something in this field. People know so much about war, dissatisfaction, enmity etc. that no fill in the blanks is left for Peace.

After all someone will have to show up and shout with the loudest voice steadily till the goal of Peace is achieved for each and every human being alive here on this planet. An effort is going on around the globe for letting people understand Peace.
Volunteers of the Youth Peace Fest took initiative in Pune and organized an event on ‘Write for Peace’ at S.K. Academy on 9th October, 2014. This academy is busy in imparting training people for joining Indian Army or the Police Force. The coach of the academy whole heartedly welcomed the event and recognized the need of peace in every individual’s life, more so for those who are or will be in more stressful and responsible jobs.

There were 45 students in the age group of 20-25 years in this event. They all were very enthusiastic to see that at least someone is talking about the basic need i.e. peace and involving and inspiring others too so decently.
The students expressed their thoughts really well. It was overwhelming to see these extremely busy students passing through such a hard training but taking deep interest in Peace.
The event as a whole was very successful.