Secondary students at YCIS Shanghai Gubei Campus recently participated in the International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”), to add their voices to the global message of non-violence. Peace Day was established in 1981 by the United Nations, and is celebrated annually by millions of people worldwide. As YCIS students came together to celebrate Peace Day, not only were they connecting with the global community, they were also participating in an international movement to create a better future.

The focus of the special day’s activity was to provide students with an interactive experience and understanding of the goal of Peace Day, which is to strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and between all peoples and nations. All Secondary students wrote a message of peace on a beautiful sheet of Origami paper, and then drew a representation of what peace meant to them. All of the sheets were then folded into paper cranes, which were combined to form a chain that is now displayed on campus. The activity was originally introduced in Hiroshi­ma, Japan, through the story of a Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki, and has come to be recognised as an international symbol of peace.

Mr Krishna Somanah, Secondary Teacher and the teacher-organiser of the campus’ Peace Club, described the activity, saying, “The event was very successful, with all students, teachers, and administrators focused on making paper cranes while reflecting on the message of peace. Apart from celebrating Peace Day, the objectives of the YCIS Peace Club are to help train members to become Peace Ambassadors, and to organise regular events linked with peace to be held at the school.”

Proactive groups like the Peace Club provide an outlet for students to get involved in affecting global change, and are just one of the many aspects of the educational experience at YCIS Shanghai that helps shape students into global citizens.