MALAWI
(2005
World Peace Prayer Society Report)
Joyce
Ng'oma, Blantyre
INTERNATIONAL
DAY OF PEACE CELEBRATED IN MALAWI
URI Malawi
celebrated IDP at Chisapi Private Schools with pomp. Banners with
words such as "URI MALAWI AND CHISAPI PRIVATE SCHOOLS CELEBRATE
PEACE DAY," "MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH," and MTENDERE
PA DZIKO LAPANSI" "MTENDERE" What you are not able
to understand translates to what has been written in English. We wanted
everybody to know what the celebration was about. Almost all children
put on hats with the above words. The banners were hung on walls and
trees. About 500 people attended. The theme was "May Peace Prevail
on Earth"
The main
celebration started as soon as the Member of Parliament arrived at
the School. Seith Brewer opened with a Prayer for Peace then the
little ones gave us a traditional dance. They looked adorable in white
hats and wrappers around their waist and danced vigorously for peace
as they sang: We want peace in Malawi and the whole world; we are
proud of this day, stop fighting each other, love your neighbour.
After
the colourful dance there were speeches made in the following order:
by a student named Dauphen Kambewankako (12yrs) thanked URI for choosing
her school as a venue and called on fellow students to know the importance
of Peace among people. She called on parents to love each other and
their families and neighbours, among other things.
I
was the second to speak. I thanked the owner of the school for agreeing
that we use their premise,,and thanked students and teachers for being
readily available to join us host IDP.I gave the history of URI globally
and Malawi in particular; explained to them how they can join and
some of the activities we have done.
One
of the teacher's at the school, Mr. Peter Nkhwema, spoke after me.
He thanked the people for their attendance. He told them how happy
the school was to be the first in Malawi to be associated with such
a function and wished everyone to be as peaceful as possible in what
they do and help build Malawi.
The
Group Village Headman Mnyaka spoke next. He thanked the Proprietor
for building the school in his area and that activities such as the
IDP mean a lot to his people now that they have seen and heard about
it.
The
last speaker was one of the youngest Member of Parliament Honourable
Billy Kaunda, a very controversial and popular musician, whose songs
are on sensitive issues and also promote the welfare of children and
people in general. He commended URI Malawi for hosting the function
in his Constituency. He stated that the opposite of Peace is War hence
the need to join hands and prevent war and propagate peace. He urged
the people to solve their problems through contact and dialogue. He
called for peace in Malawi, its neighbouring countries and the world
as a whole.
Among
the activities done were: Poems, Bible verses on peace, Drama, Kwaito
dance and singing. The function ended with Candle lighting and a prayer
by one of the teachers, M. A. Mulipa. At the very end, we gathered
with all participants for a drink in the name of PEACE.
Let
me end with a poem written specially for IDP by Lucy Mangwiyo, 10
years old and she is Standard others call it Grade 6; and then one
of the students' speeches. They wrote these on their own and at short
notice. We are all very impressed with their dedication.
"PEACE"
a Poem by Lucy Mangwiyo, age 10
Peace,
peace what kind of an animal are you? Peace means living together
in harmony. Why is it that fathers and mothers do not live in peace?
Why is it that there are conflicts in Sudan, DRC and Liberia? Do not
commit suicide, do not kill with a gun, no manslaughter, do not beat
each other, that is what we call peace. Give the world the peace it
deserves. Happy is a man who brings peace, a man who fights for peace,
for the good of the world. May peace prevail on Earth. Give the world
the peace it deserves.
Speech
by: Dauphen Kambewankako, age 12
The Regional Coordinator for URI and URI members, The Member of Parliament,
Chiefs, Parents, Fellow students, Ladies and gentlemen.
Today, CHISAPI Private School and the community join the world in
celebrating the International Day of Peace. This is a good cause for
us to meet today because without peace, we will experience the following:
Violence, People quarrelling, Disturbances, War, Theft and Burglary,
Rape, Torture, Pain and Cruelty. The students of Chisapi and the young
people in Malawi do not like to live in fear when we see such things
happening. By taking part today, we want to tell the world that we
like PEACE. We realize that without peace there will be no development.
We students
of Chisapi private school would like to see the following for Malawi
and the world: 1. People discussing issues whenever there is a problem
in a mature way. 2. People not fighting but laughing and smiling.
3. People helping each other in time of need, for example, in Malawi,
we need to share food especially now when some people are dying of
hunger.
It is
our sincere hope that as everybody leaves this place, he or she should
be speaking about peace. I will end my speech by saying that MAY PEACE
PREVAIL ON THIS NATION and the ENTIRE WORLD. To symbolize this, please
turn to your neighbour- SMILE AND SHAKE HANDS.
2005
World Peace Prayer Society Compilation
PICTORAL
ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS PEACE DAY EVENTS
May
Peace Prevail
On Earth
