Picking up a pen or paintbrush for peace will impact the lives of others.
The Moose Jaw Family YMCA will be celebrating Peace Week by asking all youth to submit their artwork. YMCA wants children to submit their “peace” of art, which will be displayed at the Fairford YMCA location and will be auctioned off to raise money for its international partners in Mexico. YMCAs across the Prairies are contributing to the construction of “Casa Canada” in Cuidad Juarez.
“We have received some art pieces and they’ll be displayed during Peace Week, funds development coordinator Corinne Damaskie told the Times-Herald.
The art work will be displayed at the Fairford YMCA from Nov. 17 –– 24. “All the YMCAs across the prairies will be participating with our international partners,” Damaskie said towards proceeds raised going to youth hostels for mexican youth.
Since 1984, YMCAs across Canada have spent the third week in November organizing special initiatives to engage children, youth and adults in exploring peace from local and global perspectives. YMCA Peace Week brings global communities together to celebrate peacemakers and find ways of creating a more just and peaceful world.
“We’re extending our relationship with our international partners and helping kids along the way,” Damaskie said.
The YMCA Casas project is commited to protecting, educating and reintegrating youth detained or deported at the US -Mexico border by helping to expand the chain of YMCA youth shelters (casas) along the border.
The YMCA wants youth 17 and under to express their interpretation of the theme: What does peace mean to you?
All entries will be entered to win YMCA memberships or a class party, and everyone 17 and under was able to participate.
The YMCA will also be hosting its annual Breakfast with Santa at St. Joseph’s Hall on Dec. 8. The event is partnered with the Knights of Columbus.
“We’ll have two sittings, one at 9 a.m. and the other at 11 a.m.,” Damaskie said. “We’re going to have goodie bags and it will be $5 for members and $7 for non-members.”
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