Nairobi, Kenya - UPF-Kenya celebrated the International Day of Peace on September 24 at the court of the Chief Kadhi in Nairobi. The event began with words of welcome and an invocation by young Muslim girls by chanting a message of peace to mark the UN International Day of Peace together with the Muslim Eid ul-Fitr celebration of the end of Ramadan.
The Secretary General of UPF-Kenya, Rev. Emmanuel Tanui, talked about the core values and principles of peace with an emphasis on the fact that humanity is one family. There was also a short introduction of the activities of Ambassadors for Peace with a focus on interfaith peace initiatives.
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Dr. Hasmukh Dawda, chairman of UPF-Kenya, called upon peace-loving individuals to move beyond "talking" and encouraged them to take action by doing something out of the ordinary to reach out to other people. Various distinguished people were appointed as Ambassadors for Peace in recognition of their noble work and were urged to continue investing efforts for the realization of a peaceful world transcending differences of race, religion, and social status. The chief guest, Mr. Mohammed M. Mwinypembe, Secretary General of the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, was also the keynote speaker. He was appointed Ambassador for Peace and presented with the autobiography of UPF Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon.
Several Ambassadors for Peace gathered to lend their support to the International Day of Peace. Dr. Markandey Rai, Chief of Global Parliamentarians, UN Habitat, read the 2011 message by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and acknowledged the efforts of UPF Ambassadors for Peace throughout the world. This was followed by a presentation of a traditional Indian folk dance called “Bhagra,” which aims to promote values of peace and harmony.
The day ended with a brief cultural program and the planting of “Peace Trees” as a sign of commitment to sustainable solutions and demonstration of practical acts of peacebuilding. This was followed by prayers from religious leaders and sharing a peace cake.