Student Cultivates Peace Around The World

Ming Yang Soong, a 13-year-old from Malaysia, created the winning poster, “Peace Around the World.”
Ming Yang Soong, a 13-year-old from Malaysia, created the winning poster, “Peace Around the World.”

Student Cultivates Peace Around The World

(NewsUSA) - An international art contest

celebrating children’s visions of peace capped

off its 20th year by recognizing a teenager from

Malaysia as the grand prize winner.

The grand prize winner of this year’s Lions

International Peace Poster Contest is Ming

Yang Soong, a 13-year-old boy from Bidor,

Malaysia. His poster, selected from 350,000

entries from 81 countries, portrays the theme

“Peace Around the World.” As the grand prize

winner, Soong receives a trip to New York City

for a special award ceremony during Lions Day

with the United Nations.

“All nations must work together to keep this

world peaceful,” Soong said. “If there is peace in

the world, we can progress and live in harmony.

I hope that all countries on this planet will

support peace.”

During the past two decades more than four

million children, ages 11 to 13, have artistically

shared their visions for peace through the Lions

International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs

sponsor the contest in schools and organized

youth programs. The contest provides an outlet

for children and adults to discuss the meaning

of world peace while visually portraying their

feelings. Now entering its 21st year, the contest

has been held in more than 100 countries.

“Today the world is divided into pieces

by hatred, terrorism and war,” said Kajol

Chetan Bid, a merit award winner from India.

“Together we can make this world a better

place to live in - a world full of love and peace.”

Winners have come from all across the

globe, many from areas where children do not

know peace.

“Peace is a gift to live and to let others live

it,” said Feliccina Sioufi of Lebanon, a merit

award winner.

Lions Clubs International President

Mahendra Amarasuriya said, “Lions in many

nations have embraced the Peace Poster

Contest as a hands-on way to promote peace

and to support the young people in their

communities. It is another way Lions have

accepted the challenge to change the world.”

The 24 finalists’ peace posters will

be exhibited during the year at children’s

museums and various locations throughout the

United States. Visit www.lionsclubs.orgto view

posters and send e-cards.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s

largest service club organization with nearly

1.3 million members in approximately 45,000

clubs in 202 countries and geographical areas

around the world. Since 1917, Lions Clubs have

aided the blind and visually impaired while

making a strong commitment to community

service and serving youth throughout the

world.

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