The PEACE Cranes; messengers of Universal Peace
There was a little girl called Sadako Sasaki who survived the bombing. She was then two years old. The radiation from the bomb gave her leukemia when she was ten. Sadako believed in an old Japanese story that if you made 1,000 paper cranes, you would be granted a wish. She decided to fold 1,000 cranes and wish for good health. She died before she could complete them, and her school friends finished making them for her. She said: "I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world." Each year, thousands of paper cranes from all over the world hang from the statue of Sadako in Hiroshima@aps@s Peace Park. The cranes and her message are a good way to remember that we must never give up on peace.

A special assembly was held on Peace Day after garlanding of Gandhi’s statue, who is a propagator of non-violence. This was followed by a prayer and a pledge to live in peace and harmony. The students sang a beautiful song written by the teachers of GIIS Ahmedabad. Sadako’s story was narrated for the benefit of students. GIIS support staff, admin staff, students and teachers took an oath to promote an environment of peace and harmony and spread the message of Peace. The team presented the Golden Crane to Mr. Caesar D’silva, Principal GIIS Ahmedabad. He addressed the children and asked them to become ambassadors of peace by first setting examples. The entire school was decorated with origami of paper cranes to spread the messages of peace non-violence and brotherhood.

All activities took place at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Universal Values. Students of the Pre-primary section coloured cranes. Entire support staff enthusiastically learnt how to fold paper cranes along with the GIIS students. The students and teachers of Primary section went to Chharodi Municipal Government School to spread the message of peace by enacting a skit in Hindi, singing a song and presenting their friends of Chharodi school with cranes and chocolates. The students were sensitized to the symbol of peace and brotherhood by translating the story of Sadako and the legend of thousand cranes in their local language by GIIS teachers. Teachers and students of Chharodi School were very happy to participate in the event. The Principal of Chharodi Municipal School was honoured with a golden crane by GIIS children as on behalf of GIIS. The programme ended by singing the National Anthem.

“Gandhi believed in non-violence. His birthday is celebrated as Non-Violence Day as per directives of United Nations. The atrocity of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing, is the worst act of violence in history. So, the importance of Peace Day, according to me is the first block for the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Universal Values.” Said Dr. Justice C.S. Dharmadhikari as he appreciated the activities of the students towards promoting a harmonious and peaceful society.