By: Patricia Ann Talley, Editor
Scouts are Messengers of Peace!
Every year, Peace Pals International™ conducts an art contest for kids and youth. Peace Pals is an international not-for-profit charity that promotes peace activities for communities and youth. The goal of the annual contest is to teach kids life lessons through art. Youth 5-16 from around the world can enter the contest.
One year, the theme of the art contest was, “Nature for All ~ Loving the Earth.” The goal was to inspire a new generation of thinkers and doers to connect with nature and take action to support its conservation.
Club Rotary in my hometown of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, donated the paper and colored pencils for local kids to participate in the art contest. Various youth groups, schools, activity centers, Eco-Tiangius Organic Market, etc., participated.
Of course, the SCOUTS of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo were eager to participate! After all, the local troop has a program entitled, “I want to be a SCOUT – A Messenger of Peace.” The troop has about 40 boys and girls.
The Ixtapa Zihuatanejo SCOUT troop meets every week and has about 40 boys and girls ages 6-23.
My little niece Donaji Sofia is a SCOUT! She is the daughter of my academic collaborator, Professor Donaji Mendez Tello, who is head of Afromexican studies at the tourism university (Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero) in Zihuatanejo.
Donaji Sofia was 8 years old at the time. UPDATE from Sofia: She is now 15 years old. This was back when she was a “child.”
Donaji Sofia Mendez Hernandez of Zihuatanejo is a dedicated SCOUT!
I spent time with Donaji Sofia and the other SCOUTS to explain the theme of the art contest that year – “Nature for All ~ Loving the Earth.”
I asked them to think about these things:
- What do you do to make the earth more beautiful?
- What is your favorite element in Nature?
- Why is it important to take care of animals?
- Why do we need to take care of the ocean and its creatures?
Most of the kids drew pictures of whales, birds, trees, etc., so I was surprised to see Donaji Sofia’s entry that shows two little girls holding hands, one white, and the other brown. I asked Donaji Sofia to explain her artwork to me.
Donaji Sofia’s drawing shows two little girls of different colors holding hands.
“Well, Aunt Paty,” Donaji Sofia explained. “You TOLD me to draw about nature and what makes the world beautiful. It’s simple. These girls are friends; they go to school together; they play together; they do everything together! It doesn’t matter what color they are. Isn’t that natural?”