TPRF Real Stories

November 23, 2012

We arrived at Otinibi, about one hour’s drive from Accra, on a mixture of paved and dirt roads, crowded with cars trying to navigate around the people selling everything from fruit to clothing to automobile parts.

We could hear the rhythmic beating of the drums as the car pulled up and we waited for the large gates to swing open and let us enter. We parked around the backside of the FFP facility. The four drummers were really going at it, and everyone was in a festive mood.

The large white canopy tents had been magically installed in the graveled courtyard since the day before and looked clean, cool, and majestic, with rows and rows of simple plastic molded chairs set out in neat sections for all the 400 plus students, teachers and distinguished guests.

The canopies appeared to offer a welcome relief from the direct sun, which at 9 a.m. was already a sizzling ninety degrees, with humidity to match. Soon it became obvious that although the canopies were helpful, they provided a false sense of security. Everyone had beads of perspiration, damp heads and clothing, and we all tried our best to ignore the stifling heat.

There was excitement in the air—the founder, Prem Rawat, was coming soon!

The children started filing in, wearing clean and freshly starched uniforms. They were amazingly quiet for such a large group of youngsters. I suspect they were in awe of the fair-skinned people who looked different from them in some ways, and of course, all the cameras being set up.

While we were arranging the seating, we heard that the Chief of Otinibi and his entourage were attending unexpectedly. Although he was generous in offering the land to build the Otinibi facility free of charge, I learned that he seldom attends even the most important events. The Ashanti King was sending his most senior advisors to attend the event as well. So we spent some additional time deciding how to seat these honored guests according to protocol.

What a handsome and impressive group. The Otinibi Chief was elegantly dressed in his traditional clothing and carried an impressive staff. He and his group also had an air of elegance and authority. The King’s entourage wore colorful traditional wraps and lots of gold! I saw gold crowns, armbands, wrist bracelets, rings, staffs, and gold woven into cloth. Between the sun and the precious metal, the whole place was glittering.

Shortly after the audience began to settle, the drummers picked up the pace to welcome Prem Rawat. Dressed simply in slacks and a light blue shirt, Mr. Rawat greeted everyone and took the seat of honor in the middle of the front row. Emmanuel Adjei walked to the microphone to welcome everyone.

The headmistress, Grace Ninsaw, spoke first about how important this facility was for the community, how the school enrollment had increased by almost 300 since construction began, and how well the children were doing. She said that many charities had promised to build a facility to help feed the children, but then never followed through on their promise. It wasn’t until construction of the FFP facility was well underway that people dared to hope, and then to believe, that there would be such a wonderful place in their community.

The Otinibi Chief spoke about the difference between the school before and after the FFP facility was built and graciously offered more land to grow vegetables for the program.

The Ashanti King’s representative spoke next. He mentioned having attended Prem Rawat’s public event the night before and remarked how pleasantly surprised he was by how much he enjoyed it. He assured everyone that he would report to the King about Prem Rawat, his message of peace, and the wonderful work that is being done through TPRF, and he offered that perhaps we could work together to build another facility.

Then I spoke a little about TPRF, trying not to be self-conscious that I might possibly look as I felt—soaked, head to toe, from the intense humidity.

There was some unexpected traditional dancing, which most everyone seemed to enjoy—giggling children and wide-eyed adults alike.

A school skit by the young children thanked Prem Rawat, TPRF, and the Foundation’spartner, PremBaf Ghana (PBG).

Prem Rawat addressed the children throughout his talk. “You are the future of Ghana….You are important. You are giving this facility its importance, not the other way around.”

The Chief and the King’s representatives were duly impressed with Prem Rawat’s talk, mumbling their agreement throughout. They wanted their photos taken with Mr. Rawat, which he readily agreed to. Afterwards, they were individually introduced to Mr. Rawat and were beaming with pleasure as they shook hands.

The last scheduled event was the unveiling of the plaque, followed by the students beginning their meal. Mr. Rawat walked from table to table, saying hello to the children and asking how they liked the food, which they were obviously enjoying. Then he walked through the facility, looked at the kitchen, the prep rooms, and storage areas. The facility was extremely clean. Mr. Rawat was pleased, noticeably impressed, and stayed an extra twenty-five minutes.

It was a wonderful occasion, enjoyed by all who attended. What a glorious day!

Texas prison officials recently invited a unique group of volunteers to offer a presentation of the Peace Education Program (PEP) at the annual meeting of the Texas Community Service Association (TCSA) in San Antonio, Texas. This association is comprised of probation and parole officers and other Criminal Justice professionals from around the State. The conference, designed to be a forum for the discussion of correctional solutions for juveniles and adults, featured appearances from Mayor Julian Castro, TCSA members, and some university professors, such as Dr. Michael Tapia and Dr. Michael Gilbert.

The invitation to participate in the conference came from Pete Gonzales, president of the TCSA.  Pete is the supervisor for the Community Service Restitution Program of the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department.  He heard Prem Rawat’s address at the University of Texas in San Antonio earlier this year and later requested a Peace Education Pilot Program for the local Juvenile Probation Department.

The Peace Education Presenters

The Peace Education Program was the final presentation of the three-day conference. As the last day served mostly as a wrap-up session, many people were wondering what this last session would be all about. The panel presentation began with a screening of the video Peace on the Inside, Part I.  Afterwards, when the lights came back on, many audience members were surprised to see some of the same people who had just appeared in the video seated before them.

The panel members included former Dominguez Peace Education students David Sigee, Chase Cowen, Lisandro Martinez, and Trinidad Silva. Roberto and Chantal Piriz, the class founders, and Hope Cavillo, serving as moderator, rounded out the panel.

Many people will remember these former Dominguez students from the Peace on the Inside videos, and most recently, Trinidad Silva, who gave the memorable quote, “If everyone in prison were to find peace, it would shock the world.”

Trinidad Silva

After the video, the presenters simply asked the audience if they had any questions for the panelists.  Many of the initial questions came from people wanting to know how the program could be implemented in their areas or how it could be applied to juvenile facilities.  One by one, the panelists took turns answering questions, sharing their experiences of the program and describing how it has benefited and transformed their lives.

Several of the panelists said that they regularly listened to Words of Peace videos and mentioned how they helped them to stay in tune with their inner peace.

One member of the audience asked what the students would do if, for some reason, they couldn’t watch the videos. Without missing a beat, Trinidad said that it is not only about watching the videos, but it is about a peace that is already inside of everyone. It is something that he can use in every situation.

It seemed to me the audience was completely unprepared for the level of sincerity, confidence, and passion coming from these students.  Several of the panelists had traveled long distances just to be there, and the audience appeared to appreciate their dedication and efforts.

Chase Cowen

The former offenders seemed to shatter any anti-social stereotypes with the open and articulate sharing of their own life lessons.

One woman in the audience said she could understand the purpose of the program because she too was working on finding peace, and could relate to a program aimed at helping people get in touch with their hearts.

Two other participants from different parts of Texas asked if the panel would be willing to travel and give similar presentations in their districts, and the panelists expressed an interest in this suggestion.

Mrs. Calvillo, who has been working in the corrections field for 25 years, kept the presentation moving by tying questions and answers together with relevant examples from the program. Roberto and Chantal Piriz each offered insights that helped to clarify the history, goals, and purpose of the class.  The hour-long presentation seemed to fly by, and everyone agreed it could have continued for much longer.

After the presentation, the audience gave the panel a rousing round of applause.  One parole officer said he was completely astounded, calling it a real showstopper.  The Vice-President of the TCSA said she had been in corrections for 20 years and that this was the most fantastic presentation she had ever experienced.  She added that she was retiring in a couple of years and would be interested in promoting this program in her own area.

David Sigee

Many participants took home literature and publications and seemed genuinely interested in the possibility of learning more.  In the end, there was an overwhelming consensus that the Peace Education Program was an exciting new possibility that merited further attention.

I am looking forward to viewing the video of this event when it is finally released.

John Snyder

Lisandro Martinez

I have been deeply moved many times in my life hearing Prem Rawat speak. But my experience watching the video he made for the Nordic Peace Conference was somehow unique. He created it for a group of people passionately committed to the cause of peace. Most of the audience members had never heard much about Prem Rawat before seeing the video.

I always find his message to be fresh and alive. But the clarity and universal human appeal of this presentation struck me as reaching a whole new level. The feeling inside of me as the impact of the message penetrated my heart was, “Every person should hear this!” I’ve felt that way before. But I was feeling something more—if ever a video was created that could realize that aim, this is it!

About 24 hours later I realized that I could not only briefly feel this urgent impulse to share the message, but could also actually do something about it. Today it’s quite possible to share a video with a great many people via the Internet, using tools like email, YouTube, and Facebook. As a student of online media, I was keenly aware of several notable recent examples of videos spreading with incredible speed. I felt that TPRF could realistically be the catalyst for such an avalanche. And as the manager of TPRF’s social media presence, it made sense for me to propose that TPRF undertake such an effort. So I did.

TPRF agreed, and the effort is now underway. Thousands of new views have been generated in just a few days. Let’s see how far we can take it. To me, it’s wonderful if even one person hears this message, but working as a global team of people interested in peace to share this video with as many people as possible and watching the YouTube view count grow—well, that’s my idea of a good time. I hope that it’s yours too, and that you will choose to be part of it.

Last week, Prem Rawat traveled to San Antonio to speak to participants in a TPRF-sponsored Peace Education Program (PEP) at Dominguez State Jail. John C. Snyder is a San Antonio resident who has worked as a community relations point man, writing about the PEP program at the Dominguez State Jail. John was invited to help set up the evening program with Prem Rawat and the inmates. He wrote this moving account of the event.

Well, I guess this headline is not completely accurate, mostly for two reasons. The first one is that no one was officially or prematurely released from incarceration at the jail. The second reason is that the Dominguez facility does not refer to the inmates as prisoners. They are called offenders. Beyond that, however, the freedom part seemed spot-on to me as I listened and observed the offender’s heartfelt comments and enthusiasm. Their emotions and genuine sincerity were both palpable and contagious.

As part of the ongoing Peace Education Program  at Dominguez, the men participating in the classes had persistently invited Prem Rawat to visit and speak for quite some time. That invitation was honored and accepted this past week.

An Inmate's Painting Illustrating One of Prem Rawat's Stories

From the start of the day when the set-up crew arrived, everyone was warmly greeted by the assistant warden of the facility. That set the tone for the generous hospitality and courtesy that was offered by guards and staff alike. As the day progressed, everyone seemed to be increasingly swept up in the feeling of what was about to unfold.

That evening, approximately 70 inmates, as well as prison staff, local officials, representatives of TPRF, and PEP volunteers all sat together in a small room just outside the official lock-down portion of the facility. Guards ushered inmates into the room in small groups, and they sat patiently waiting for the event to begin. Just before Prem Rawat arrived, one of the prison guards reminded the inmates to stay focused and well behaved. His request was the last reminder of being inside a prison as the evening’s program began.

The assistant warden spoke first, welcoming everyone and thanking Mr. Rawat for coming. Lorenzo Carter spoke next.  Mr Carter has been the long-time driving force at the prison in support of the Peace Inside program, as the PEP classes are called here. He gave a short overview of the success of the program and how he has been personally touched and transformed by Prem Rawat’s message. He then introduced the main speaker. Once Prem Rawat began to speak, the structure and formality of prison life began to slowly melt away.

His message and tone conveyed a blend of hope, encouragement, guidance, strength, and love and appeared to make everyone there feel like they were the most important human beings on earth. He defined freedom in terms that were unrelated to physical walls or restrictions and explained how many very seemingly successful people were even more discontented than the inmates themselves. He encouraged everyone to stand on their own two feet and to exercise their own hearts, saying it is easy to develop the muscles in the arms, but to exercise the muscles of the heart takes real strength. He challenged everyone to develop the capacity to love, to shine, and to fulfill their human potential, and then added with emphasis, never to return to this place.

Following Prem Rawat’s talk, there was time for interaction, allowing individual inmates to pose questions and offer their expressions. The inmates then reciprocated the sincerity and respect that Prem Rawat showed them in the most kind and loving fashion, as they began to explain what his message had done for them in their own lives. The humility, thankfulness, and appreciation that they offered were overwhelming, and any words to describe it could only diminish what was being said between human hearts.

Afterwards, Chantal Piriz, one of the PEP class leaders, got up and fought back tears as she thanked each and every one who contributed to making the event a success. She reached out to the individual inmates as well and thanked them for their attention and contributions.

Then as the event concluded, a guard came in and instructed the inmates to file out one row at a time. In that moment, the reminder came that we were still seated within the walls of a penal institution.  However, as the inmates rose to leave, they seemed totally impervious to that condition and their surroundings. They just sort of floated out of the room, smiling, beaming, and waving to the rest of us, like they were leaving on a cruise ship and saying goodbye to those left behind.

The transformation was amazing, and in the end, they all walked out of the room just like free men.

Prem Rawat Speaks to Inmates and Prison Staff in San Antonio

The TPRF Peace Education Program (PEP) is bringing Prem Rawat’s message of peace inside the walls of prisons around the world. Inmates and prison officials alike have expressed their appreciation and enthusiasm for the program.

Chris Taney, Luis and Clara Lopez, and Linda Fox-Novak have formed a volunteer team to implement PEP at the Montgomery County Jail in Maryland. Chris, Linda, and Luis have written the following reports to bring our readers up to date with developments in the past year.

Chris Taney: “One Year Later”

It has been just over a year since we started the Peace Education Program classes at the Montgomery County Jail in Maryland. The jail was built in 2005 and is home to just over 1,000 men, women, and juveniles. Most are awaiting sentencing. The average length of incarceration is between 12 and 18 months.

When we first started in September 2011, there was only one PEP class in Spanish. Now, Luis and Clara Lopez monitor a class in Spanish, and I have a class in English. Linda Fox-Novak, a new PEP team member, has started a class in the women’s unit. The classes run between one and two hours and comprise a curriculum specifically created for use in correctional and educational settings.

It took us over a year of working with the administration of the jail to get the classes approved. So we have actually been affiliated with the jail for over two years. It’s a good feeling to walk down the hallways and bump into the Volunteer Coordinator, Education Director, or a Corrections Officer and hear them say, “How are you doing? How’s your program going?” We also run into inmates who have graduated from previous classes, and it’s always nice to catch up with them.

The Montgomery County Jail is close to Washington, D.C., and a number of volunteers who live in the area have offered to help out with the PEP program there. Some contribute financially, and others have offered to print materials to distribute. The inmates enjoy taking something to read with them when they go back to their cells. This makes it necessary for us to keep a constant supply of high-quality print materials on hand.

The DVDs tend to generate a lot of interest in the class. It’s a real pleasure to listen to the inmates share their thoughts, feelings, and impressions about the subjects that Prem Rawat talks about. Many inmates bring a pen and composition book to class and take careful notes.

I remember one person saying how much he enjoyed the classes because they weren’t focused on problems. He described how many of the programs offered in the correctional facility focus on an individual’s problems. He felt it was a relief to be able to attend a class that offered solutions that could be found inside.

Often, people will ask if their cellmate or someone in their unit can come to the class. “I think he’d really like to hear this. Can you put him on the list?”

After seeing a photograph of Prem Rawat addressing hundreds of thousands of people in India, you could hear an exclamation of amazement, “WOW!!”

Women’s Class: Linda Fox-Novak

“A Journey of Kindness”

The Peace Education Program was launched for the women inmates at MCCF in August of this year. This area of the facility has a considerably smaller population in comparison to the men’s section, and the numbers fluctuate based on their length of stay.

The housing area is much smaller, and the women have fewer opportunities available to them. Many are required to attend mandatory classes provided by the facility, and in our class one day someone said to the others, “I wish they would let everyone take this class because it is much more helpful. It should be mandatory. You feel so much better after this class.” And they all agreed!

Each week someone comments, “I wish we didn’t have to wait so long between classes. Why can’t we have this class more times in a week?” (We’re working on it!) It’s a joy to see the calm on their faces at the end of the period. The Prem Rawat Foundation is bringing such a beautiful gift to all who are interested, and I get to witness the kindness Prem Rawat shares with everyone.

Spanish Class: Luis Lopez

My wife Clara Lopez and I started the Peace Education classes in Spanish more than one year ago, after more than a year of dealing with protocols, procedures, and paperwork.

It has been a delightful experience to see these guys enjoying the classes in a very comfortable and friendly environment. After the DVD screenings the class members can comment or formulate questions. Unlike a typical class, no homework is required. The hope is that people will enjoy the program, and we can see in the eyes of class participants that they surely do.

The Spanish classes have been attended by 10 to 15 students each week. The students listen to the DVDs with remarkable concentration and attention, and most of the time their comments are limited to just few words of admiration, respect, and gratitude toward Prem Rawat.

We have become very popular in the correctional facility. The staff knows us very well.

It is a really rewarding experience to introduce these people to Prem Rawat’s message and to see how their expressions change throughout the weeks. Their smiles and shining eyes say more than a thousand words.

Peace Education Class at Montgomery County Correctional Facility

TPRF Founder Prem Rawat made the keynote address at the “Peace and Well-being” conference hosted in Brussels by the European Parliament on November 28, 2011. TPRF guest-blogger Helen Caton attended the event and the following is an account of her experience at the conference.

I was honored to attend the Peace and Well-being event in Brussels earlier this week and volunteered to help out a bit, as many people do. I feel fortunate to be in a position to support TPRF’s humanitarian activities and I really like the motto, “Dignity, Peace and Prosperity.” It was also nice to meet people who had travelled from across Europe and as far afield as New York, Washington and even Australia, to help out and learn more.

Signing the Pledge to Peace

I see myself as a practical person; I coach leaders on building their businesses, so in the run-up to the event, I asked myself: What does a message of peace inspire? What difference will an event like this make?

During the pre-event reception, I had the chance to meet people from different countries and asked them what this event was inspiring them to do.

One of the founding signatories of the Pledge to Peace, Jeremy Gilley, is committed to making next year’s UN Peace Day (September 21) a global day of truce where no armies attack one another. Last year he managed to arrange for 1.4 million children in Afghanistan to receive polio vaccinations thanks to the day of peace. Jeremy travels tirelessly in pursuit of his mission, yet he was so willing to stop and chat with many people who came up to him after the event.

Another person from Russia was talking, through an interpreter, about a school he wants to establish with the topic of peace as part of the curriculum. The event chairperson, Dr. Anthony Seldon, the Master of Wellington College in England, has established something similar in his school. Education seemed to be a theme for many event participants. They expressed a desire for children to learn more than the foundational subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic. They were interested in offering them a chance to explore what happiness and peace could mean in their lives.

I met one of the young people who had travelled from Norway to ask keynote speaker Prem Rawat a question. This young man was so articulate in expressing the need for young people to explore the topic of peace more, and he was determined to invite Prem Rawat to come to Norway to talk to his fellow students in person.

Another person I met was Baroness Scotland: a British lawyer, Shadow (opposition) Attorney General, and Member of the House of Lords. Her inspiration has led her to be Patron for the Corporate Alliance against Domestic Violence, with the vision to eradicate domestic violence globally, by encouraging employers to instigate positive change in the workplace.

Mr. Seemanto Roy, another founding signatory, talked about the one million people his family’s business employs in India and his sense of how each one of those employees is like a member of his family.

I discovered that a message of peace inspires and encourages the reduction of conflict, one day at a time. It encourages better education so our children can find other ways to resolve their differences, and it supports reduced violence in the home, as well as better workplace relationships.

It’s easy to be cynical these days about fine words, but the Pledge to Peace has become one way to measure efforts towards peace annually. I look forward to hearing how this inspiration transforms into practical outcomes. Most importantly for me, it shows that my little effort in supporting a European-hosted event has wider implications around the world.

It also felt that my personal experience of peace was allowed to shine. I was able to see clearly how fortunate I am in my home and work life through my own experience of peace. Mr. Gianni Pittella, the 1^st Vice-President of the European Union, came up to me at the end of the event and shook my hand. I managed to say “grazie” (thank you) to him for hosting such a landmark event.

To Prem Rawat I also say a sincere “Thank you” for being a source of inspiration.

Prem Rawat Makes Keynote Address

Giustino Caposciutti’s unique “Participatory Art” form brought together artists and local residents to celebrate peace through painting during the Week of Peace and Solidarity in Mazarra del Vallo, Sicily. 

This week’s post continues ”Weaving for Peace Part One” in which Giustino described the process of 100 people painting squares with a theme of peace. The individual paintings were then mounted onto long strips of paper and later woven into a huge peace mosaic. Before being woven together in a “Living Loom,” performers in costume paraded the strips through the town to the accompaniment of folk music.

Hundreds of people were touched either by the music, the live performance or by being a “painter of a small textile tile for a day.”

The parade moved along to reach the main town square. There, a young girl introduced and described the strips of paintings one by one in front of more than three hundred curious and attentive people.

Next, the time came to assemble the strips with the “Living Weaving Loom,” a group of people portraying the various components of a mechanical weaving loom. The actors moved at the direction of the master weaver who used colored sticks like an orchestra conductor to synchronize the operation of each part of the imaginary loom. A local folk group played music and danced to complete the performance.

After few minutes, the performers wove the one hundred paintings into a giant mosaic. In a climactic moment, they raised the “masterpiece” for all to see.

I sensed a deep, emotional response from the audience. The “Performance Art” and beautifully painted mosaic left the public speechless for a few moments. Slowly at first, the audience broke out with warm applause, which continued enthusiastically for a long time. All of the people in costume (figuranti) came to the front of the stage to allow the audience to snap pictures and record videos.

When the music began playing again, many people from the audience started dancing with the performers and the whole square was full of joy, peace, and celebration.

The next day, Prem Rawat came to inaugurate the Peace Monolith and to give the closing and most important address. His address completed an incredible Week of Peace and Solidarity in the city. The discourse touched all the citizens of Mazara del Vallo and all the many guests from Sicily, Italy and Europe.

I want to thank all the people who participated in this event, including the students and friends who helped me. And I want to especially thank TPRF for sponsoring a marvelous event that brought joy and many moments of deep reflection on peace to Sicily.

Photos Courtesy of Giustino Caposciutti

Peace Themed Paintings

This week’s guest-blogger, Giustino Caposciutti, is an artist and teacher. Born in Arezzo, Tuscany (Italy) in 1946, he now lives in Turin.

Since 1969, Giustino has displayed his work in solo and group exhibitions, and his paintings are now part of public and private collections owned by individuals, museums, municipalities, and foundations.

In 1993, Giustino invented a unique art form he calls “Participatory Art.” The process involves a number of people working together to create a group expression based on a theme. The individual artwork is integrated into a giant mosaic in a public performance called “The Living Loom.”

This is Giustino’s account of how he adapted his “Participatory Art” form as part of the inaugural Week of Peace and Solidarity in Mazara del Vallo, Sicily.

I want to share with all of you my experience in Mazara del Vallo, Sicily, during the Week of Peace and Solidarity organized by TPRF and the Municipality.

The Organizers asked me to create an event of Participatory Art, something I have done for many years as a well-known artist in Italy.

We named the event “Tessere per la Pace” which in Italian means “Weaving for Peace,” or “Tiles for Peace.”  The purpose of the exhibition was to prompt people to reflect on the theme of peace, not as an absence of war but as an individual need, an inner necessity, as Prem Rawat simply explains and helps people to discover.

The goal is to create an enormous mosaic painted by one hundred people together in a public exhibition.  We call this process a “Living Weaving Loom.”

To create the mosaic, I began by preparing twenty long “strips” made of cotton canvas.  Each strip carries five paintings created by individual artists.  In this sense, each “tile” of the mosaic is a unique painting.

Teens from schools, people from the Arab community, local artists, and many others showed up to freely take part.  Many brought their own brushes! Everyone tried to express, in a unique way, their feeling about the theme of the week in Mazara del Vallo: Peace and Solidarity.

Each artist found his or her own way to be part of the grand mosaic. Somebody painted a beautiful sunrise, someone else a bird or a fish, while others painted flowers or trees. An entire classroom from the local art high school, which won an award in the Contest for Peace held during the week, came to help people paint their tiles.

Costumed performers paraded the strips with the paintings affixed through the streets of the city for the townspeople to see, accompanied by a group of traditional Sicilian musicians and dancers.

People came out from their homes and shops to watch, interrupting their normal activities, and many of them joined joyfully in the parade.

(Continued next week)

ARTISTS CO-CREATE FOR PEACE

Today is Friday, May 27, the high point of the Week of Peace in Mazara del Vallo, Sicily. As the day began, a beautiful breeze blew gently in from the Sicilian Canal of the Mediterranean Sea and a warm sun shone upon the blue bay.

Over the centuries, history has been made along these coasts, an area that was also the birthplace of great philosophers and scientists like Empedocles and Archimedes. But, as I see it, history will be also be written today in the hearts of the people who listen to one of the greatest Ambassadors of Peace ever known.

Morning. In the Town Hall, students and guests gather for the awarding of the prizes for the winner and runners up of the Contest of Peace for which high school and university students of the area submitted essays on making peace a reality.

The enthusiasm and passion for peace reflected in the students’ questions after Prem Rawat’s talk was very touching. The profoundness of Mr. Rawat’s words moved many inside this beautiful old building. Mayor Nicolò Cristaldi and several other guests, including Mrs. Souad Sbai, a member of the Italian parliament, were captivated by his freshness and humor. Everyone was amazed by the simplicity and intelligence of Mr. Rawat’s answers to the very deep questions the students posed about peace.

After the awards ceremony, everyone walked to Piazza Mokarta, a large town square overlooking the sea. The occasion was the unveiling of a huge pink marble stone that had been hand carved by a Mazara sculptor with a simple thought by Prem Rawat: “Peace begins in the hearts of all human beings.” The sentence is carved in four languages, including Esperanto, with Arabic to be added later on.

All these events and experiences built up to the main event that evening where over 1200 people gathered to hear Prem Rawat speak. (See the news article covering the event on the home page of the TPRF website.)

I do not know why, but speaking about peace and working for peace during this whole week has multiplied the feeling of peace and joy inside of me. But I was not the only one. The people I had lunch with that day had also been moved by the morning program. We all shared the same feeling. Only a few people were here for the Week of Peace compared to the world population but, as both Mayor Cristaldi and Mr. Rawat expressed in their talks, the biggest transformations start from small things, like the tiny seeds from which a forest may arise. Being there, I felt that I was witnessing something historic in the making.

Mazara del Vallo Celebrates Week of Peace