Concerned Students Pen Appeal to Putin
In the peaceful town of Wersten, Germany, the children of Stephanus Church have taken a unique step towards promoting peace in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Over five services, the 80 children aged between 8 and 10 painted peace cards, lit candles, and sang peace songs, all as a response to their concerns about the war in Ukraine. The purpose of these heartfelt gestures was to express a desire for peace to Mr. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, whom they believed could understand German.
Pastor Kay Faller shared that some children at the church have parents from Russia, while others have parents from Ukraine, making the conflict particularly poignant for them. Some of the children expressed fear that the conflict might spread to Wersten, prompting the initiative.
The peace cards, created with sincere hope for a resolution, were collected and sent this week to the Russian embassy in Berlin. School principal Melanie Gregrowicz also joined in the effort, sending the peace cards to the embassy as a symbol of unity and peace.
During the services, peace texts from the Bible were engaged with, and prayers were offered for peace in both Russia and Ukraine. The church community's actions serve as a testament to the power of unity and compassion, especially when it comes to the future of the world's children.
While this is a local story, it is a reminder of the global impact that children can have when they come together to show their support for peace in troubled times. Across the world, children have expressed their concerns and hopes for peace in various ways, from creating art to organising peaceful protests. The children of Stephanus Church in Wersten have added their voices to this chorus, sending a powerful message of hope for peace to Russia and Ukraine.
The children of Stephanus Church in Wersten, Germany, have shown their commitment to education-and-self-development by taking an initiative to promote peace, which includes learning about the importance of compassion and unity amidst global conflicts. They have expressed their hopes for peace through creating peace cards, singing peace songs, and engaging with peace texts from the Bible, demonstrating their capacity for self-development and their desire for a peaceful world.
