Peace Island Institute 6th Annual Peace Festival
Written by : Irmgard Baynes
Last year, members of WFWP attended Peace Islands’ 5th Annual Peace Festival and were deeply impressed by the program. This year, WFWP participated as a partner, setting up a table to showcase the organization’s vision, share information about the Her Tribe group meetings in the New Jersey chapter, and invite visitors to explore their website.
A team of six WFWP members assisted with setup and greeted attendees throughout the event. The Elizabeth Family Church’s “Peace Starts with Me” Choir was also featured in the Cultural Performance Program. The choir’s performance was very well received, with enthusiastic applause for both A Blessed Day and Peace Starts with Me, original compositions by David Eaton. Mr. Eaton introduced the choir and shared its vision with the audience.
The festival included nine performances in total, all of which were uplifting and entertaining. At the closing session, Irmgard, representative of the NJ chapter and initiator of the collaboration, was invited on stage to deliver closing comments. This provided a valuable opportunity to highlight WFWP’s work and express gratitude to attendees for supporting the cause of peace.
Another key highlight of the festival was the Bike/Walk for Peace event. Five WFWP members participated, wearing T-shirts with the message: “Women Working Together to Establish a Culture of Heart in the Family, Community, Nation, and World to Achieve Genuine and Sustainable Peace.”
The WFWP table drew significant attention, attracting visitors with banners that emphasized “Women Working Together” and “Peace Starts with Me.” Attendees were offered origami peace cranes, donated by Japanese WFWP members, snacks, and a simple craft activity for children using colorful pipe cleaners.
Overall, the festival provided an exciting and vibrant experience for the WFWP team. While additional giveaways and pamphlets would have enhanced outreach, the organization is grateful for the opportunity to showcase its mission and engage with the broader community.
