By Karen Morian, US Servas Peace Secretary

On August 6, Servas Peace Secretaries from six continents met online to discuss upcoming events and ongoing projects. Servas International's joint Peace Secretaries Mei Wang (Taiwan) and Francisco Salomon Luna Aburto (Mexico) moderated. Our new US Peace Secretary, Karen Morian, attended on behalf of US Servas.Watch a recording. 

In addition to US Servas’ call for participation in the United Nations Peace Wave at noon on September 21 in recognition of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, Servas International called for local peace walks during the month of September. Members and local chapters are encouraged to invite like-minded friends and local organizations to participate. Aside from marking the occasion, this will also increase the visibility of Servas within our local communities. Servas is also asking that all websites and social media display images with peaceful themes. More information may be found here:  

Participants shared plans for Day of Peace activities around the world: 

• Servas Israel plans a peace visit to Galilee in response to increasing violence there. 

• Servas Iran will set up a telescope in a park and encourage people to view the borderless night sky to mark the event. 

• Servas Spain and Servas Portugal will host a joint, weeklong peace meeting September 16-23rd to mark the Day of Peace, and to plan future projects and events. US Peace Secretary, Karen Morian, will attend and report back at the US Servas conference in October. 

• Servas Argentina will hold a two-day meeting to mark the occasion and plan for the coming year. 

• Servas Uruguay will hold a public event for children at which they will be invited to create art about Peace and/or Nature. 

Additionally:  

David Kabambo of Servas Tanzania presented his project, Servas Arts Tanzania; funds raised from the sale of artworks will be used topurchase wheelchairs and hand-powered tricycles for people with disabilities. Servas members who are creative artists are encouraged to donate works to be auctioned to support the initiative. The project will officially start in 2024 (see article in September Open Doors)