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PHILIPSBURG--A rally dubbed "Champions of Peace" was held on the afternoon of September 19. Participants marched through the streets of Philipsburg and held a small presentation at Clem Labega Square, which served as the beginning and ending point.
Students of various schools participated in the rally. Still dressed in uniform, they formed small groups holding banners for the march.
Offering kind words and touching on the significance of acting as "champions of peace," Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams addressed the crowd briefly, as did Jorien Wuite on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs and Marcellia Henry on behalf of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Addressing the crowd, Henry shared a poem called "I dream of a world of peace" by a Nepalese high school student before sharing a reflection on whether peace is really possible or an ideal concept. She also shared a UNESCO slogan: "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed."
Although the turnout was less than hoped for, organisers said it was about the quality rather than only the quantity. The route of the march also was shortened, with participants skipping a planned stop at the peace monument at Philipsburg Jubilee Library.
The rally was organised by the partnership to encourage acceptance, caring and empowerment in schools PEACE IS Foundation in collaboration with the St. Maarten Youth Council Association. The objective was to encourage St. Maarten's young people, as well as the young at heart, to be champions of peace and to encourage others to do the same by advocating harmony.
