HONORING WHAT HAS BEEN BUILT WITH HEART: WELCOMING MESSAGE FROM WFWP USA PRESIDENT ANGELIKA SELLE

Editor’s Note: This message was written for the occasion of the Schools of Africa fundraiser in Las Vegas on February 2, 2019. You can read the report of that event here.

Dear esteemed peace leaders, ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the Women's Federation for World Peace USA, I warmly welcome you to Las Vegas and to the "Built With Heart" conference and fundraiser for the Schools of Africa Project!

We are also very honored and happy to welcome Mrs. Moriko Hori, the President of WFWP Japan, who took it upon herself to undertake the very long journey from Japan to the U.S. in order to be here with you today and to share her heart. Welcome, Mrs. Hori, and domo arigato gozaimasu (thank you very much)!

My heartfelt congratulations and gratitude also go to our Las Vegas Chapter under the leadership of Mrs. Mary Hida and Sera Hirano, and our Special Liaison Officer, Mrs. Aimmee Kodachian, for their successful work in Vegas over the last many years and for putting on this great event.

Last but not least, I would like to express my deep appreciation to our national Schools of Africa Director here in the United States, Mrs. Fannie Smith, who ALWAYS has put her heart and soul into inspiring others to invest in and support these great schools in our Motherland Africa!

When I think of Africa, I cannot help but also think of our black brothers and sisters here in America, whose ancestors came to these shores on slave ships, against their will, being uprooted from their families and loved ones as they left their shores through the Gates of No Return. HOWEVER, by God's grace and as by a miracle, many great champions and heroes arose from among the African diaspora, most notably one particular descendant of slaves who forgave his ancestors' slave masters and called his people to nonviolence, goodness, and reconciliation with all people. He stirred up the conscience of America to actually practice the message of Jesus, which is to love one's enemies and see one another as equal members of the same human race, regardless of skin color, ethnic background, religion, or nationality. He called for the original founding spirit of America to be realized, that is, ONE NATION UNDER GOD. That man is none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday we commemorated just last month. And it is he who said, "Everyone is a leader, because everyone can serve!"

Allow me to note here that this very same philosophy of nonviolence, forgiveness, and peace leadership is the philosophy of the Women's Federation's Co-Founders, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and her late husband, the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon. They have summed up their philosophy simply as "Living for the Sake of Others" and "Living by the Logic of Love." Thus, as we feel we are in resonance with the spirit of Dr. King, that paragon of the African diaspora, we feel especially moved to invest in and help enrich the land of his ancestors through our Schools of Africa project.

It is this spirit of service and sacrifice that has propelled the Women's Federation for World Peace to become an NGO in General Consultative Status at the United Nations and that has been the force behind all of its activities and endeavors worldwide for the last 27 years!

With this being said, I wish you a most inspiring, electrifying conference and fundraiser for the Schools of Africa, as you celebrate the peacemakers present and honor all that has been BUILT WITH HEART!

With warm regards,

Angelika Selle
President, WFWP USA
Vice President North America Region