By Our Correspondent
The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), led by Global Region 2 Regional Director Seo-Yeon Lee, showcased the winning artworks from the ‘5th International Loving Peace Art Competition’ on July 4th and 5th at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The exhibition was held in the main corridor of Nelson Mandela Hall at the AU, drawing attendees including African education ministers, senior officials from international organizations, and representatives from educational NGOs.
The event, aligned with the African Union’s ‘Year of Education’ and coinciding with the AU’s 1st Pan African Conference on Girls and Women’s Education (AU PANCOGEd1), underscored the vital role of education and peace. Themed ‘A Peaceful World Learned from Nature,’ the exhibition featured diverse artworks from students worldwide, conveying a universal message of peace.
African education officials responded with great enthusiasm. A Zimbabwean artist and educational NGO advocate praised the artwork’s exceptional quality, remarking, “It’s astonishing to think these were created by students.” Meanwhile, a senior AU official from Cameroon was moved to tears by the paintings and expressed strong support for hosting future competitions in Cameroon.
Regional Director Seo-Yeon Lee commented, “Displaying children’s artwork at a gathering of education leaders from various African nations is profoundly meaningful. Our goal is to inspire a greater appreciation for peace among African children through these works.”
Scenes from the exhibition were also featured in the highlight video of the 1st Pan African Conference on Girls and Women’s Education closing ceremony.
IWPG, an international women’s NGO registered with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Global Communications (DGC), is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It operates with over 110 branches and 660 partner organizations globally, focusing on building a women’s peace network, promoting peace education, spreading a culture of peace, and advocating for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).
