Recent Happenings

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
This Thursday several of our administrative and service learning volunteers joined together to meet and share their passions for peace. After a rousing rallying by MJ, everyone enjoyed Timmy's delicious meal including hummus and chips and salsa for appetizers, lasagna and salad for dinner, and home-made brownies for dessert. As they ate, the volunteers talked about how each got involved with and currently contributes to LFFP. Cute stories about the peace kids were shared and goals for the organization were put forth. Though it was a delightful evening, several volunteers were unable to attend, prompting the proposal for gatherings on a more regular basis. We look forward to this new tradition, celebrating the hard work of LFFP's family of volunteers.

Prison Ministry
We have recently completed two workshops entitled, “Peace Begins With Me” helping ex-offenders find inner peace as they approach the challenges of returning to the community.

Peace Room at Perry School
This week, we welcomed service learning volunteers from Georgetown, George Washington, and the University of Maryland as well as our regular Georgetown Medical student volunteers. These volunteers enhance the children’s peace experience by offering their attention, interaction, and guidance for our younger peace kids. We continued discussing our theme for this month, “Spreading the Germ of Peace.” With ameba-like peace signs decorating the rooms, the children discussed how acts of peace, big and small, are contagious and can virally improve our community by spreading caring from person to person. The kids did an excellent job articulating their understanding of peace and how they wish to help the world. It is so moving to see them grow and mature in their understanding of peacemaking.


Upcoming Events

• Sounds of Hope 6th Annual Fundraiser at the Potter's House
  Friday, November 13th @ 6:30 to 8:00 on Friday
  Join us to meet and mingle with LFFP’s peace community

• Revels 27th Annual Winter Solstice Tradition at Lisner Auditorium
  Friday, December 4th @ 7:30pm
  Email Timasito@gmail.com to reserve a ticket

LFFP in the News

Check out DC's local news resource, The Examiner, for a feature of Little Friends for Peace by Ryan McAllister: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-26184-DC-Family-Health-Examiner~y2009m11d7-Little-Friends-for-Peace

Special thanks to Ryan for spreading the word about our peacework!

Service Learning in the Perry Peace Room

This week we were so fortunate to have had an abundance of service learning volunteers working in our Perry Peace Room. Four of the volunteers are students at Georgetown, another three attend George Washington, three more are young professionals from a Washington & Lee alumni group, and another six volunteers were from our longtime Georgetown Medical student volunteer group.

We were especially excited that Amanda and Karishma, Georgetown students completing a “Writing for Social Change” project with LFFP, were able to capture this service learning in action for a video that they are creating. They were able to tape the peace play as well as interviews, and all were energized by the potential of her project to share our peace work in this captivating format.

It is always very special to incorporate the spirit and unique skills of volunteers to our peace education programming. The kids look forward to visitors setting aside time just for them and they really benefit from being exposed to an ever increasing number of folks who reinforce the importance of peace. At the same time, we aim for the volunteers to gain first-hand experience in teaching peace, taking this knowledge back to their personal, educational, and professional lives. Special thanks to these volunteers for the important part they play in spreading a culture of peace!

Recent Happenings

SITE SPOTLIGHT: BEACON HOUSE
LFFP has worked with Beacon House in the Edgewood Terrace community of NE DC for the last 12 summers, inviting Beacon youth to Peace Camp at the UUCA church in Arlington, VA. Now, our partnership has blossomed into a year-round Peace Program Infusion. This past fall we conducted a peace experience for Beacon House staff to learn how to incorporate a peaceful atmosphere and peace techniques into their everyday educational, cultural, recreational, and athletic programming. In addition, we now teach a Peace class every Friday to a group of the 500 at-risk youth whom Beacon House engages.

This past Friday we invited our musical partner Kweku of Ghana to inspire and enliven Peace Class with his special drumming talent. This class was held on Family Night, so parents along with youth enjoyed the peaceful rhythms.

DRUMMING FOR PEACE
For several months we have been partnering with Kweku, a drummer who was taught to make and play drums by his uncle in his home village in Ghana. While visiting relatives in Accra, he was deeply moved by the street children who had to take care of themselves and were often victimized by those from whom they begged. From that experience he decided to organize them to build a shelter together, in which they could learn to play drums and to build their own. At the same time, they would learn to read, write, and protect themselves from AIDS and being cheated. Kweku raised money to buy each piece of plywood by giving guitar lessons and performances.

While his friends continue to do this in Ghana, he was able to come to America to raise money thanks to the help he received from Peace Corps volunteers who discovered him and his work, and from an order for 20 drums made by an Israeli man. Those Peace Corps volunteers introduced him to LFFP and now we serve as his host here in America, and he teaches our children the art of drumming. After he returns to Ghana, LFFP will continue to accept American donations for his impactful work. In addition, he makes drum for sale, from which the proceeds also benefit his important peacework in Ghana. Please don’t hesitate to contact mjpeace@gmail.com if you are interested in donating to Kweku’s Ghana program or in purchasing one of his drums.

INTERNATIONAL PEACE & COOPERATION
On October 24th, the Perry Peace Kids celebrated United Nation’s Day. After check-in and the Peace Pledge, we talked about other countries and how and how important it is for all countries to get along and work together. Then, the kids dressed up to resemble international cultural features and we marched carrying peace flags in a United Nations Day Parade around the Perry building. Following the march we all enjoyed an international Peace Meal with a sampling of foods from across the globe.

PEACEFUL BODIES
In Solidarity with Michele Obama's recent health fair at the White House, last week’s Thursday night Peace Meal at the Perry Peace Room not only included our typical nutritious approach to food preparation, but also some exercising! We talked about the importance of movement, got active hula hooping, and even did a little yoga! Then, that evening’s Peace Meal consisted of healthy soft tacos with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and low fat meat.

VOLUNTEER UPDATE
Great News! Starting in November a new group of University of Maryland service learning volunteers will join LFFP in our Perry Peace Room every Monday from 4:30-7:30pm. These college aged students will help lead our peace education programming, reinforcing a caring atmosphere while learning how to create teachable moments and make cooperation fun.

Welcome Terrapins! We are so excited to have you join our peace community!

Unity Walk

On Sunday, Little Friends for Peace walked with people of all faiths to proclaim that our differences should unite us. Our co-directors, MJ & Jerry, attended the 5th annual walk that brings folks from various religious and ideological backgrounds together to promote mutual respect and understanding. Much more than just an honorary stroll, the event also included speeches from Rev. Mpho Tutu, Arun Gandhi, Maureen Fiedler, and Rabbi Bruce Listig whose messages sparked conversations amongst all the participants. Little Friends for Peace was a proud sponsor of this inspiring event and encourages all to seek peace through the celebration of our diversity.

Learn more about this event at www.911unitywalk.org

Seton HS Girls Come to the Peace Room at Perry for their “Urban Plunge Project”

This morning, 3 girls from Seton High School arrived at LFFP’s Perry site with their teacher to plunge into peacemaking in the Perry community. They were most eager to engage in direct service and to learn about the Peace Room and the peace we teach throughout the Sursum Corda neighborhood.

First, we gave them an overview of the program and shared a bit about the mission of LFFP and the creation of the Peace Room at Perry. We shared with them about the children, their backgrounds and their experiences of peace and unpeace, as well as our LFFP approach and our goal of helping the children experience peace, meet peacemakers and learn about the Peace Train and other instruments of peace. Most of all, we shared with them how we want to empower the kids to use the Peace Train steps in their neighborhood, school and family.
Then we went over to the Sursum Corda neighborhood where they met Ann and saw her inspiring picture walls adorned with images of her many children, whom she has welcoming, helped, sheltered and loved. The girls were moved by it all.

After that, we went back over to Perry with the neighborhood kids who were so excited to have their new “tutors.” We grouped into the “Peace Circle,” recited the “Peace Pledge,” sang a few songs and then we did our Check-In, talking about what is bringing us peace and what is taking peace away. The children shared that having the girls visit, coming to the Peace Room, and doing art together was what was bringing them peace today. They also shared that the rain and not always having a warm Peace Room to go into was what was taking away their peace. The Seton girls shared that engaging with LFFP and being with the children was bringing them peace today. Everyone then divided into projects, some making a peace tree with leaves inscribed with peacebuilding actions, while others made a pumpkin bog, arranging pumpkins around it while discussing how they were going to bring light to the world.

Then, we were pleasantly surprised when 5 more Seton High School girls showed up with their teacher and said the project they were assigned to didn't have enough work for them. So we welcomed them, gave an orientation, and walked them over to Ann’s house so they could get the feel of the neighborhood, while the other group stayed with Jerry in the Peace Room. We concluded the day as one big group playing cooperative games, passing the Earth Ball and circling up for check-out.

All of the girls expressed that they were moved, on fire and ready to come back. The children too could not stop talking about how they want to come back to the Peace Room every day, as they proclaimed, “We love the Peace Room!” We are so grateful that one of the teachers also wants to come back, and is planning to return this Thursday to bring snacks and help with math during afterschool home work time, and that one of the girls who has volunteered with us before is interested in becoming a summer intern. It was a super special service-learning day: a real “Urban Plunge!”

Peacemaking with Girls from Uganda

Despite gloomy weather, Little Friends for Peace was cheered, moved, and filled with joy to share our peace work with a group of 12 girls from a Uganda Refugee Camp who are part of a Leadership Training program sponsored by the National Academy of Education.

The girls spent two days of their two week D.C. tour with LFFP learning about our peace instruments, including the steps of LFFP’s “Peace Train” problem solving method. Through LFFP’s “Peace Circle” we also engaged in cross-cultural sharing of our life journeys and experiences of peace and unpeace. It was very difficult to hear about the girls’ personal stories of unpeace, living amidst the pain of fighting and torture. However, it was inspiring to sense their strength and hear about their resolve to persevere for peace. After getting to know each other, we got down to some fun, building peace by engaging in recreational activities with each other and nature. We also visited the Colonial Farm and Organic Garden, as well as a Potomac River outlook to peek over at Mt. Vernon.

It was an incredible peacebuilding experience, with all moved to tears as a result of the powerful bonding. We are so glad to gather once more before they leave for home, taking in a D.C. United Soccer game tonight. We also eagerly anticipate keeping this spark alive, having been invited by the group’s leaders to take the “Peace Train” to their home and share a peace experience with their Uganda friends and family. In addition, the group’s State Department sponsor also requested a similar in-service for an upcoming group visiting D.C. from Afghanistan. We are so pumped to be realizing our vision for global peacebuilding through relationships and the sharing of our peace instruments!