MIDDLETOWN — Twenty-three Mater Dei Prep students and seven St. Mary Elementary School students were honored to attend the International Day of Peace at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Sept. 16.
This was the second year that Mater Dei Prep students from the Emerging Global Leaders Program were invited to attend this conference and the first year for St. Mary Elementary School. The International Day of Peace began in 1982 and is dedicated to world peace, specifically the absence of war and violence.
This year Mater Dei Prep students were chaperoned by the Emerging Global Leaders coordinator George Anthony, English teacher Elana Maloney, and St. Mary Elementary School Guidance Counselor Katie Anderson.
Anthony has been attending the International Day of Peace for the past 15 years and has developed a strong relationship between the United Nations and the Mater Dei Prep Emerging Global Leaders Program. Every member of the Emerging Global Leaders program has played an active role in the United Nations organizations and will continue to support their mission of promoting a message of peace.
Mater Dei Prep students were able to hear speeches presented by the General Secretary of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon and UN Messengers of Peace Dr. Jane Goodall, Michael Douglas, Midori Goto, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Stevie Wonder. Students also had the opportunity to video conference with other students throughout the world to discuss ways on how to promote the message of peace throughout their communities.
In addition to hearing members of the United Nations and UN Messengers address the audience, the Mater Dei Prep scholars were able to take part in the ringing of the Peace Bell ritual. This ritual is performed every year on the International Day of Peace. General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon rings the bell, which is made out of melted down bullets and various metal from past wars to symbolize the beginning of International Peace Day and to pray for peace.
The Mater Dei Prep Emerging Global Leaders Program will continue to be active players within the United Nations organizations with continued support from organizations such as UN NGO Pathway’s To Peace. Seraph scholars look forward to attending many events throughout the upcoming school year and working on many group projects in hopes to promote the United Nations message of peace.
Registration is now open for Mater Dei Prep’s fall Open Houses on Oct. 16 or Oct. 19. Visit materdeiprep.org to register. For more information, contact Kathleen G. Daly, director of Advancement, Mater Dei Prep, at 732-671-9100, or email [email protected].