An international project to promote peace by encouraging children to understand the value of peace, was supported by a Tongan school today, with children contributing their drawings to a travelling international exhibition called “I Colori per la Pace” (Colours for Peace).

Drawings of peace by local primary school children at the Ocean of Light International School in Hofoa joiined the exhibition, which has collected over 9000 drawings from 200 primary and nursery schools in more than 80 countries around the world.

Antonio Giannelli, President of “I Colori per la Pace” (Colours for Peace) Association from Italy, introduced the international drawings collected from children from around the world to Hon Fanetupouvava’u Tu’ivakano at Ocean of Light this morning.

Antonio said this project was created to promote peace through cross-cultural communication between new generations, and they considered children's drawings as the most genuine way to let out a cry of hope from all over the world.

"We are trying to encourage children from all over the world to understand the value of peace." he said.

Local Italians GP and Daniela Orbassano coordinated the project for Tonga.

Daniela said Tonga is the 82^nd country for this exhibit and the drawings were initially in Fiji before coming and will go onwards to Vanuatu, Dubai, Romania, Ukraine and other countries.

She said children in Tonga are happy "as peace for them is being drawn in the sense of peace at home, which we are so lucky to have in comparison to other parts of the world."

"This is a wonderful project to promote peace and to have it with Ocean of Light is fitting with the school's mission to promote peace, kindness and love. Ocean of Light is also an international school with students from various multi-cultural ethnicities," she said.

Nadia FIfita the School Director was happy to host and join the exhibit.

She said this is a highly significant project that will help to promote peace through the children's drawings and connect the world community together.

She said they would be inviting other schools in Tongatapu to view the exhibit during its two-weeks in Tonga. "Maybe the students in these schools can add some drawings of peace to add for this international exhibit," she said.