2020 Virtual Walk for Peace
A beautiful responsibility, where love can be your motivation and your compass.”
Please scroll down to the 2nd Stop: The Netherlands for the full message.
“Peace cannot be delegated.
It begins with you and me, and the choices we make today.”
Savitri MacCuish Director
World Peace Flame Foundation
December 27th:
17,320 virtual miles walked
(that’s about 51,864 geographical miles!)
The walk is now over – phew! What an adventure we all had and what amazing people we met along the way. It has been a feat of over 3 months full of fun and magic.
We celebrated the end of the walk with a global meditation on light on December 21st. Over 500 people from around the world joined in this beautiful session which was live from Snowdonia with Andrew Wells and Jane Clapham.
Thank you to all that joined us live that evening and all that gave a donation.
If you missed the event you can still watch the recording here:
If you had wanted to donate but were unable to, then you still can here:
We don’t know the full total raised so far as we have pledges still to come in but it’s approximately almost £3400, without the outstanding.
The walk raised around £1800 and the meditation over £1500.
We’d like to thank all the thousands of children around the world who submitted their footprints for peace and all the grown ups that made this happen. A true global coming together.
You can view all the places we visited below and share in all the wonderful highlights.
As one journey ends – another will begin.
How it all began…
On September 21st we embarked on a Virtual Walk around the World.
We are visiting World Peace Flame Monuments throughout the world collecting footprints for peace along the way.
The intention is to combine our desire for peace, through our footprints, with a dedicated action.
You can view all footprints here:
The virtual walk launched at West Lodge School in London. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to watch the launch video and find out how you can join in.
Fill the world with Light! – Global Meditation for Peace – Mon 21 Dec 2020
To celebrate the end of the Virtual Walk for Peace we held a worldwide meditation. Hundreds of people across the globe attended.
Fundraising – Our Aim and Ways You Can Help
Our aim is to get the “Peace in Your Hands” Education Project for Children of Primary School Age translated into as many languages as possible and to distribute it to children & teachers all around the world. Also to have the web materials translated and available to download. Sections are already available in many languages including Arabic, Catalan, Dutch, Romanian, Spanish, French, Italian & Welsh. We want to make these resources available, with your help, into many more languages including German, Turkish and Gujarati, to name a few.
If you would like to make a donation, please go to
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/world-peace-flame
Once you click on the link, you will be asked to click ‘give now’ and put in the amount of your donation. Note: underneath your donation amount, you will be asked if you would like to give a percentage to Just Giving. Please change the suggested extra donation amount to zero or it’ll be deducted from your donation.
The Journey of Footsteps for Peace
13th & final stop
London
We can’t quite believe we are in our final week and have arrived back to the original starting point – West Lodge Primary School. Here the children have a lovely closing message for all the hundreds of children around the world who have taken part in this amazing project:
Message from John Jones, one of the founding members of the World Peace Flame as well as a Director of the Dru International School of Yoga.
Best wishes,
Our next stop is at Kingsley Hall in Bromley-by-Bow where William Rhind of The Gandhi Foundation has this message for us:
December 1931: Indian thinker, statesman and nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869 – 1948) with George Lansbury (1859 – 1940) and a group of children at Kingsley Hall in the East End of London. Gandhi stayed at the hall during his visit to London to attend the Round Table Conference. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
This week’s Peacemaker
Download here
Week 13 – Peace Activity & Fun Facts
Download here
12th stop
North Wales
What a fabulous time we had with such a warm welcome from some wonderful friends in Scotland and the north of England. One of our shortest legs has just been completed – 166 miles across country to arrive in the heart of North Wales.
Our final stop in North Wales is at Ysgol Gynradd Llanllechid in Rachub, Bethesda, Bangor. The head teacher here, Mrs Gwenan Davies Jones, co-ordinated the peace activity here including the following video messages of peace from some of the pupils:
And here are their footprints (these can be viewed in a larger format in the full Gallery):
“Our friends at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, whose festival promotes peace and friendship, support the work that we do and would like to share their 2020 Global Peace Message with us all..”
You can see more of what they do for Global Peace and we are pleased to say that this friendship will continue with us supporting each others peace paths in the years to follow:
We are stopping off in the Nant Ffrancon Valley at Snowdonia Mountain Lodge, the Dru International Training Centre and home to the first UK WPF.
Here we were greeted by Annie Jones, Director and Co-founder, International School of Dru Yoga.
Annie had just been on her own personal Walk for Peace through the Valley:
Annie had this beautiful message for all those peacemakers involved in this project:
This beautiful WPF lights up the Snowdonia National Park with its glass structure that allows the flame to be seen from far and wide. On the sides of the monument is the word ‘peace’ inscribed in different languages. Here you’ll also find the candle gallery:
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- World Peace Flame Amongst the Mountains
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- The Candle Gallery
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- Central Candle in the Gallery
We are off to Ysgol Tregarth next to thank the pupils there for their lovely footprints – and to thank Mrs Llinos Williams (Pennaeth Mewn Gofal Dros Dro – Acting Head Teacher) for making this happen. Here is their collection:
Here is a wonderful poem written by Elliw Hywel, Age 10, pupil at Ysgol Tregarth
And next stop is Ysgol Bodfeurig, Mynydd Llandegai. These footprints were created by KS2 pupils and Llinos says:
”They did thoroughly enjoy the task and had some very mature comments to make in discussion.”
This week’s Peacemaker
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Week 12 – Peace Activity & Fun Facts
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11th stop
SCOTLAND & YORKSHIRE
So having had a truly wonderful time in North America & Canada we made an incredibly long journey back to the British Isles – that’s a whopping 2971 miles!
During our journey we received this amazing message of support from Satish Kumar.
Scotland
“I love the World Peace Flame and how it helps people in different ways, depending on what is needed at the time. At the moment this World Peace Flame in Scotland has taken on the role of allowing people to come and be here when they can’t attend a funeral. They can place a photo, flowers and messages by the flame and it gives them a way of feeling connected. “
Elspeth Johnston, Scotland
Yorkshire
We then continued our walk southwards towards Yorkshire and were greeted in Garforth, Leeds.
On 28th April 2017 a World Peace Flame Monument was installed here.
Here is a video with a Garforth Welcome from Chairman of Garforth in Bloom and 3 other Local Councillors, including Sue Owen who was the driving force in getting the WPF monument up and running:
Garforth shines very brightly as the community embraces this incredible flame of peace.
We then set off to visit Scholes and the WPF there ……having stopped for a little break and a cuppa – and a Yorkshire curd tart.
Here we met with Parish Councillor Stella Walsh who is inspirational for the Scholes WPF.
”Scholes World Peace Flame was opened on December 15th 2018 and has been burning brightly ever since. Scholes (Elmet) Primary School with the support of Scholes WI produced the mural which included their footsteps towards peace and a greener future.”
Dr Stella Walsh
Earlier this year to celebrate Garforth, in Leeds, World Peace Flame being 3 years old, 5 Primary Schools took part in the Garforth Peace Art Project.
The children from our Strawberry Fields Primary School, under the amazing head teacher Mrs. Susan Mumby, who are part of their school Eco Council, joined us on all our assembly presentations to the other schools. Thus offering out the hands of peace and friendship and speaking about what peace means to them and what they can do for peace. This was amazing and so inspirational. Between the schools they produced over 550 pieces of peace art which was added to the Virtual Walk Total, and 2 of the schools have since added more!
The photos show the Peace Art Exhibition back in February, which was beautifully inspired by Mrs Mumby from Strawberry Fields. In lockdown the 550 pieces were laminated and posted all around our home on our fence, gates and windows, much to the delight of local people as a positive point of focus. Our future is in very good hands…..
This week’s Peacemaker
Download here:
Week 11 – Peace Activity & Fun Facts
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10th stop
NORTH AMERICA & CANADA
After a lovely time in Argentina we walked northwards 9669 geographical km to arrive in North America and a further 1120 miles (1803 km) on to Canada.
See this lovely message from Maria and Ama in Winnipeg, they live just around the corner from where the Canadian WPF was lit:
Here in Montreal we were welcomed by Alka Datt.
Alka worked in the academic sector in India for many years – most recently as an Academic Consultant. She has now moved to Montreal, where she is doing some voluntary work for the WPF amongst other things.
Our peacemaker this week is Martin Luther King Jr. Here is a wonderful message of ongoing peace from the National Civil Rights Museum President, Terri Lee Freeman, where she salutes the World Peace Flame Foundation in front of the museum’s installation of the flame. The museum is a stop during the North America-Canada leg of the walk during Week 10 (November 23, 2020).
The museum is built on the site of the old Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The place where Dr.Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated on April 4th 1968.
You can read more about the National Civil Rights Museum here.
Arriving in Colorado Springs we were made welcome with this delightful message from Deb and Ron Houseman. They were there in 1999 for the lighting of the WPF on Pike’s Peak.
If you can’t quite hear it, this is what they said:
RON: Hello – Welcome to Colorado Springs, the garden of the Gods!! Just over there, above our shoulders, is Pike’s Peak. In 1999 we walked to the top of Pike’s Peak – it’s a nice little 14 mile hike – and lit the WPF representing North America on top of its summit.
DEB: It’s a little over 14,000 feet so the air is rare! So come and visit us here in Colorado Springs. And we welcome you.
This week’s Peacemaker:
“The time is always right to do what is right.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Download here:
Week 10 – Peace Activity & Fun Facts
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On the way from south to north we had a little stop off to engage with the beautifully peaceful country of Costa Rica and learnt a few peaceful things:
Download here:
9th stop
SOUTH AMERICA
What an amazing welcome at our first stop in South America – and what a trip that has been all the way from the South Pole.
See this beautiful video from the children of Ysgol yr Hendre in the large town of Trelew in Chubut, Argentina. The children here are taught Welsh, Spanish and English and you will hear all three languages in the video:
Silvia Almeyra, head teacher, and a wonderful team of teachers came together to collaborate on this project.
Luciano Rivera , English teacher, has this to share:
“I started working at this school last year as a substitute teacher, and felt so welcome, I felt like I had found a beautiful place to grow, both as a professional and an individual. When the project was brought up to us, I worked with 6th grade on making a single footprint with everyone’s wishes in one sentence, and the students showed a great deal of enthusiasm. That sentence truly ecompasses their own minds working as one.”
Here are all the pupils fantastic Footprints- click on the link to view:
This week’s Peacemaker:
Download here:
Week 9 – Peace Activity & Fun Facts
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Peace activity Peace interview
8th stop
ANTARCTICA
From the warmth of Australia we crossed the Pacific Ocean and landed in Brrrrrrrrr….Antarctica. We are visiting Tess in the South Pole.
Tess Burrows is from the Climb for Tibet team which has carried the WPF to the far six corners of the planet. Watch Tess’s welcome video here with Buntu the penguin, an ambassador of peace for the Antarctic:
Here is Buntu’s waddling footprints for peace wish and personal pledge:
What does this mean Buntu?
”I will waddle for Peace.”
And what is your wish for peace Buntu?
”May all beings on our beautiful planet know our interconnectedness and walk the path of peace together.”
What else is happening over at the South Pole?
Hannah McKeand – ALE Remote Camps Manager:
”World Peace candles have been burning at the South Pole every day since the beginning of the year. We lit them at midnight on New Years Eve, with a little announcement to the party dedicating them to world peace.
It has still been too windy to get them lit on the ceremonial pole, but I am on a mission to get that picture. In the meantime here they are on our dinner table.”
This week’s Peacemaker
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Week 8 – Peace Activity & Fun Facts
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7th stop
AUSTRALIA
Wow!! So we arrived in this wonderful continent during the spring season, having now walked halfway across the world.
Please see this wonderful welcome video from Patricia Brown, Managing Director of Dru Australia. This is an ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ and pays respect to the First Nations People.
Here is an interview with Patricia about the history of the World Peace Flame and it’s origins in Australia:
We’d like to introduce you to our local peacemaker here in Brisbane – Lucas Patchett from Orange Sky – watch and listen to all the amazing work that he dreamed up and now champions. Interview with Angela Baker from the Senior Dru Team:
Watch how it all began, supporting the homeless on the streets of Brisbane:
Final interview with Lucas and his ideas to inspire others:
Watch and hear these very inspirational thoughts on what peace means to these primary students of Springdale Heights Public School in Lavington, New South Wales.
This week’s peacemaker:
Download week 7’s Peacemaker here:
Week 7 – Peace Activity and Fun Facts
Download here:
Join Angela for this weeks Peace Activities:
6th stop
INDIA
We are now in our sixth week and have arrived at Mahatma Gandhi’s Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The children there have so much to share with us all.
Before we look at the children’s contributions, please take a moment to read the words of peace we have received which much heartfelt gratitude from HRH Princess Irene of the Netherlands – A Personal Message to the World Peace Flame Walk.
Download here: Message from the princess
Back to the ashram…
This is Khushbu (9th grade). The translation of what she is saying is these beautiful words:
”I’d like to share how prayer helps me find peace within. It guides pure thoughts and therefore pure actions. Furthermore, we should unite and see the world as one family … one race without discrimination.”
This is Janki(9th grade), Her lovely words translate as:
”I feel that reading inspiring books can increase awareness to being open minded. There should be more libraries, so people can read to improve knowledge about what is right and what is wrong. With this increased knowledge, their thoughts can be purified and benefit the world and environment.”
”Peace begins with being the change within. By way of prayer and meditation I can make small changes in myself to be a better person… to have more compassion. If I’m at peace, it can also be a mirror for others to find the peace.”
Here is a picture drawn for the walk, showing the world being held in peace.
Watch this scene at the Ashram that gives us a feeling of the atmosphere with the residential dogs and the monkeys.
The children made this wonderful video of hands, depicting violence initially and how it can change so easily to peace.
This week’s peacemaker
Download week 6’s Peacemaker here:
Week 6 Peace Activity and Fun Facts
Download Peace Activity and Fun Facts here:
5th stop
THE MIDDLE EAST & INDIA
Another ambitious leg of our walk this week – through the Middle East and onwards to India.
Please see this message from Delhi, India. Avantika is the headmistress at Rishikuhl World Academy. The school is very committed to promoting the message of peace. During the pandemic children are not attending school at the moment in India.
This is a message from our 5th Peacemaker, Nimo Patel.
This was filmed in Colorado where Nimo is short-term based before he can return to India.
This is Arar Academy School in Irbid, Jordan, with children from Jordan, Syria and Palestine.
Irbid is a sister city with Wageningen in the Netherlands: exchange project with School de Bijenkorf in Wageningen.
Here is a photo of them doing their Dance for Peace.
And a couple of their footprints:
Peacemaker: Nimo Patel
Download week 5’s Peacemaker here:
Week 5 Peace Activity and Fun Facts
Download Peace Activity and Fun Facts here:
4th stop
KENYA – AFRICA
So we arrived in Kenya and here is a wonderful and insightful talk from Peter Legge:
Paul Krystall is an inspirational Dru Yoga Teacher based in Watamu, Kenya. He is passionate about the World Peace Flame and spreading its light in Africa. AMANI means peace in Kenya. Watch his video here:
Download Africa’s Peacemaker here:
Africa Peace Activity Week 4 and Fun Facts
Download here:
3rd stop
EUROPEAN LOCATIONS
Our final European stop was Italy and here is Maddy to greet us:
So many footprints from a school in Antwerp, Belgium – filling the whole school corridors!
We arrived in France and here the word for Peace is PAIX.
The World Peace Flame team in Vlissingen.
”It was very raining but we had a great time. We had 40 sets of footprints so that adds 400 km to the total walked. The people on the movie are from the community of Vlissingen. Greetings from Cadzand.”
The Monument in Enschede
Greetings from Germany and their 440 km
Well done!
Walking in Turkey
Children in Romania drawing their footprints
Download Peacemaker here:
Europe Peace Activity Week 3 and Fun Facts
2nd stop
THE NETHERLANDS
Please take a moment to read the words of peace we have received which much heartfelt gratitude from HRH Princess Irene of the Netherlands – A Personal Message to the World Peace Flame Walk.
Download here: Message from the princess
See the welcome message from the Dutch team:
Watch this wonderful video from the children of Al Ummah school in Enschede a city in the eastern Netherlands .
Feel the warmth of the peace flame on your back as you admire the most photographed building in The Hague: the Peace Palace. It is the seat of the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. This beautiful Neo-Renaissance style building and the organisations it houses have given The Hague worldwide recognition as the international city of Peace and Justice.
The Eternal Peace Flame burns beside the entrance to the Peace Palace. The first peace flame in the Netherlands was placed beside the entrance gates to the Peace Palace on 18 April 2002. The monument bears the inscription: “May all beings find peace”.
HRH Princess Irene of The Netherlands lit the World Peace Flame for Europe.
Read the Biog here:
Download here:
See the children walking around their footprints trail at the Peace Palace Monument in Cadzand:
A small selection of footprints from the children of Enschede
The Netherlands Peace Activity Week 2 and The Hague Fun Facts
1st Stop
LONDON KINGSLEY HALL
The World Peace Pathway at Kingsley Hall
The Peace Pathway arose from the desire of people from many
different faith and cultural traditions to create an artistic focus for
peace within London. It is here for all to enjoy and expresses our
universal yearning for peace and harmony.
Soil, sand or stones from every country in the world have been
placed under the Path. Much of this has come from places of special
significance, including Mecca, Mount Arafat, Assisi, Vrindavan,
Jerusalem, Machu Picchu and Antarctica. Under the whole structure,
there is sand from Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram in Ahmedabad, India.
Watch the children from India visiting Kingsley Hall.
London’s Peace Activity, London Fun Facts and Peacemakers
View the video of the children from India praying for World Peace at Kingsley Hall:
Join The Walk
You can join the walk at any stage as it progresses. Just download a set of footprints from the gallery below.
- Download and print the Footprint or Handprint Template
- In one foot please write your wish for peace
- In the other foot please write what you are personally going to do to help make that wish come true
Uploading your photographs
Multiple images can be uploaded,and you can create a gallery naming your folder by school
- To upload your photos to Google Photos, follow this link and create an account – then email us the link so we can add to this page
OR
Email a J-peg of them and we will add them to the online gallery.
Your submitted set of footprints will count as 10 miles (or 16 km) towards the 25,000 whether you actually walk the miles or not.
Our Aim and How You Can Help
Our aim is to get the “Peace in Your Hands” Education Project for Children of Primary School Age translated into as many languages as possible and to distribute it to children all around the world.
If you would like to make a donation to help, please go to
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/world-peace-flame
For a free download of the teacher’s manual and children’s workbook please go to:
https://www.peace-education-in-action.org/
If you would like it in a different language, please contact us at info@worldpeaceflame.co.uk
If you have any other questions, please email to:
We are looking forward to receiving your footprints. Please invite as many friends as possible to join you.
Download the poster to share with friends and schools:
The Gallery
Your footprints are pouring in. The Gallery is constantly growing and we are continuously updating it. Take a look here:
Watch the launch video:
“A Journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.”
Mahatma Gandhi
A Virtual Journey of 25,000 miles begins with a single Footprint for Peace! Here is some inspiration from the children at Mahatma Gandhi’s Ashram in India.
This is the google photo link to all of the beautiful footprints done by these Indian children at Mahatma Gandhi’s Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, a place we will also visit.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/giwWSRpNQ8ZGKdtq8