Sporting stars inspire youngsters

Peace Parade International with Jonathan Edwards and Mike Newman at Sandbrook Park Primary School

Jonathan Edwards, the Olympic triple jump champion and Mike Newman, blind land speed record holder, joined Peace Parade International at Sandbrook Primary School as part of a London 2012 inspired project, ‘We Are Human First.’

The children had an exciting and stimulating day building a giant peace dove and writing ‘what peace means to me’ poems and statements.

They also learnt how to make a short film, sang John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ and made Peace Mala bracelets.

Their poems and statements will be exhibited along with those of young people from across Greater Manchester at Peace Parade International’s Peace Festival later this year.

And, they will parade their Giant Peace Dove and Peace Statement placards on 21 September, the United Nation’s International Day of Peace and non-violence.

Jonathan Edwards engaged in a question and answer session which was filmed by the young people themselves. He told the assembly how much peace means to him, the origins of the Olympic Truce, how he was inspired to achieve his gold medals and world records and then led the whole school in an on-the-spot triple jump!

Mike Newman, dressed in his full driving gear, explained how he was able to achieve his world speed records as a blind man only because he was lucky enough to live in peace in a society with equal opportunities.

Steve Cooke of Peace Parade International, who ran the writing workshop, said how “impressed” and “moved” he was by the insight shown by the young people in their ‘what peace means to me’ poems and statements and how encouraging and inspiring it is that the future of our world is in their hands.