Roots & Shoots Medford Promoting Peace

Roots & Shoots Medford is part of an international program of 8,000 youth groups in 100 countries (www.rootsandshoots.org). Our group members are aged 9-12 years old and have been meeting once a month for the last 3 years to perform service projects.

This year, the theme of our service projects has been peace and anti-violence. We have discussed our personal meanings of peace, group cooperation and peace in communities. We have played Peace Games and discussed the meanings of various symbols of peace. Tina Chery came from the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in Dorchester and discussed their work helping families of homicide victims and their school curriculum aimed at preventing violence. Our group created a mosaic artwork of peace that was photographed and printed onto Peace Cards. So far, we've raised over $800 in cash for the LDBPI and donated another $400 worth of cards to them, for their use.

This Saturday, we'll discuss peace in the world. We will learn about the war in Darfur in Sudan, hear a speaker, and figure out ways to advocate for people who live a world away in Africa.

Visit our fantastic web site created by a 12 year old in our group. It's great: http://rootsandshootsma.tripod.com. Any questions, contact christinemaher@gmail.com.