UN International Day of Peace – 21st September

Soroptimist International has consultative status at United Nations, and so, we recognise and celebrate several of the UN’s special days during the year. We particularly draw attention to those that will benefit women and girls.

View our 2010 Peace Vigil* slides here https://picasaweb.google.com/100664038469237488308/PeaceVigilSeptember2010#

In 2008, our club celebrated UN International Day of Peace in a BIG WAY with a Peace Vigil at nearby Hadleigh Castle. We brought the issue of peace as a basic human right, to the attention of people in our locality.

We firmly believe that peace isn’t just the absence of war – it’s about living without fear, being cared for and being educated so that life can be good!

At noon, we held a quiet session of readings at the Salvation Army Training Centre in Hadleigh, near Southend, and then we walked to Hadleigh Castle for our Peace Vigil. Everyone, even the Mayor of Castle Point wore white tee-shirts or tops!

At Hadleigh Castle, we released a cloud of 35 white doves, sponsored by organisations and individuals, symbolising our Soroptimist aim for a peaceful world.

Everyone was given a peace scroll – like those given at the Glasgow Convention. The whole event was extremely moving and worthwhile.

Earlier in the year the whole club had been involved in addressing the invitations and making peace scrolls – as you can see, we got quite a production line going and all really enjoyed ourselves!

This event was a local success! The doves could be seen from as far away as Canvey Island. This is a long distance shot of our doves circling around the castle – you can save this image to your own computer and enlarge it – give a right click over the image!

At Southend, we’ve always supported UN International Day of Peace –  in 2006 we urged all our local schools to contribute to our UKPAC Peace Book and in the same year on Peace Day, several of us walked for the ‘Women for Women’ project.

In September 2010, we were again pleased to celebrate UN International Day of Peace with a dove release. [*see our Peace slides via the link above] One of our members, Margaret, was Regional President and we joined with the rest of the London Anglia Region to celebrate in Lawford.

And … Living together in harmony is something we practice at this club!