Thousands to meditate for peace in Africa
Focus will be on social challenges
MEDITATION is one of the peace-building tools that Africa needs to unite itself to tackle ills such as the abduction of more than 250 schoolgirls in Nigeria.
This is the view of the Art of Living Foundation’s Vani Pavadai, coordinator of what may be the largest peace meditation event on the continent, I Meditate Africa.
The first event, which was held last year and attracted 10 000 meditators in 23 African countries, was inspired by what Pavadai saw as a lack of awareness about Africa Day in most of the continent’s countries.
Africa Day, which falls on May 25, commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity, the predecessor of the African Union, in 1963.
“I was doing some research and found that many countries in Africa don’t celebrate Africa Day,” said Pavadai.
“I think the AU has something small that it does in Ethiopia, but as a continent there is no way of celebrating the African continent.
“So I thought what better way is there to celebrate Africa than with something that we need so much of, which is peace.”
Pavadai, who has been teaching meditation for 16 years, decided to use her skills for the initiative.
“This year, a lot of schools wanted to participate. I thought that, for the month of May, we will dedicate it to all the educational institutions on the continent.”
The meditation is for peace, and the Nigerian crisis is one of the challenges Africa has
So far, 11 500 school children have meditated this month, among them Nigerian youngsters doing so for solutions to the plight of their peers who were kidnapped by Boko Haram last month.
“The meditation is for peace, and the Nigerian crisis is one of the challenges that Africa has. I don’t want to dedicate it to only one aspect, but to peace for the whole continent.
“As a continent, we have many challenges — crime, violence, gender issues, corruption.”
In South Africa, this year’s event will be hosted in Gauteng, Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal.
In Gauteng, participants must be seated by 10.15am at the Cedar Park Hotel and Conference Centre, 120 Western Service Road, Woodmead. Contact 082-3220117. In Cape Town, it begins at 10am at the Bergvliet High School hall, Firgrove Way, Bergvliet. Contact 082-4423953. In Durban, it begins at 10am at Chatsworth Youth Centre , RK Khan Circle, Arena Park, Chatsworth. Contact 082-852-7415.