Beijing’s “Peace Tie” Binds Asia-Pacific International Schools

BISS’s three Peace Tie protagonists (photo: Wayne Demnar).

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As Grade 5 is the final year of elementary school at Beijing BISS International School, we try to give the students as many leadership opportunities as possible before they move on to secondary school.

We ask the student leaders to facilitate a positive playground environment and help the younger students wherever possible. Sometimes the students act as peer mediators to sort out arguments or problems as they arise.

While focusing on their conflict resolution skills, the students inevitably discuss the issue of peace and harmony in the wider world. They seem to do well in implementing their skills in the playground, but why isn’t the same success possible around the world? Three Grade 5 students, Ghye Brown, Adonai Gessesse, and Kim Dong Hyun decided to ask students and teachers from around the world to help them make a statement about peace.

“I think peace will help global relationships so that out futures will be better when countries help each other...” “I like Peace...” “At school we’re happy when we are together, so imagine if everyone around the world felt like that!”

The boys decided to try and create the world’s biggest “Peace Tie,” where they would paint pictures or messages about peace on material and then sew the pieces all together to make the tie.

Ghye, Adonai and Dong Hyun started looking for email addresses of international schools in other countries to invite them to participate in the project. The students were delighted when Osaka International School in Japan, Asia Pacific International School in Korea, Dalat International School in Malaysia, Bali International School in Indonesia, Canadian Academy in Kobe, Japan, the American School in Singapore and St. Andrews Lutheran College in Australia all decided to join in.

It was a very exciting time, as the packages from other schools arrived and the students from BISS completed their visual statements. The boys learned how to use a sewing machine and, with the help of Ms. Thompson from BISS, sewed all the contributions together.

The final product ended up being 21 meters long, from the knot of the tie under the smiley face to the tip at the bottom! We finally officially hoisted the tie on Thursday 23 September, on a beautiful day in Beijing.

The children and staff formed a human peace sign on the ground in front of the tie, and we played Cat Steven’s “Peace Train” and John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” to add to the atmosphere. We will be sending our story, pictures and video to the Guiness Book of Records to see if they think we qualify for recognition.

Special thanks go to Jennifer Henbest de Calvillo from Osaka International School in Japan, Richelle Harrington from Bali International School in Indonesia, Nadine Savage from Asia Pacific international School in Korea, Debbie Chinn from Dalat International School in Malaysia, Jeff Booth and Julie Cane-Corey from Canadian Academy in Japan, Mrs. Mac and Kelly McFadzen from the American School in Singapore, Vicki Stehn and Jacqueline Faulkner from St. Andrews Lutheran College in Australia, without whom the project would not have been the success it was

In the end, the message is the same as when John Lennon sang the famous lyrics: “All we are saying, is give peace a chance!”

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