On the 1st of March 2009, the Alianz Comunidad Estudiantil school in Merida, was rewarded with a world symbol that represents the biggest desire of humanity of our time: the Flag of Peace.

This emotional ceremony was presided over by Dr. Alicia Rodriguez, President of the International Committee of the Flag of Peace who created a warm and sincere atmosphere in front of hundreds of students, invited guests and parents who, engaged and moved, actively participated in the ceremony.

In attendance, as honoured witnesses, was the Director of Strategic Programmes for the Secretary of Education, Lorena Cardenas who was representing the Secretary of Education of the State, Dr. Raul Godoy Montanez. C.P.T Manuel Diaz Rubio, President of the Alianz Council, L.A.E. Jose Diaz Torre, Managing Director of Alianz, Martha Medina de Diaz, Deputy Director of the school, Lic. Rebeca Iniguez Segura, the Director of Academic Development and the Spanish navigator Vital Alzar, head of the project ”The Child, the Sea and Peace”; agreed to attend such an important event and they all showed their unconditional support for what constitutes the beginning of a significant movement.

Alianz Comunidad Estudiantil supports the programme ”Together We Construct Peace” in which, students of the school promote peace, both inside and outside the classroom.

Dr. Alicia Rodriguez invited all those present to reflect each day and ask themselves the question ”What am I going to do for Peace today? Because if we understand that peace starts in our own heart and that we are capable of radiating that peace in our schools, our state and our country, we will contribute in a very positive way to universal peace.” She also signalled that now ”from Yucatan we will make our words heard; Peace to all Men and Women”.

The Flag of Peace was escorted through a human corridor, formed with great commitment and respect by parents, students, teachers and invited guests who guided the Flag to the Garden of Peace where the flag was raised while white balloons were released along with three doves, also a symbol of peace.

Meanwhile the crowd joined hands and raised them in the air as they listened to the Hymn of Happiness, a song entitled ”Friend”, the latest composition of the Yucatecan artist Sergio Esquivel ”Peace”, written especially to mark musically the journey that the Timaran Zamna project will follow around the world in the name of peace. The lyrics sung by the Yucatecan children generated great emotion in the hearts of those present and a flow of peace and love to all those who had the honour of being involved with the Flag of Peace ceremony.

The song that will be carried around the world goes as follows:

”We bring peace, we come in peace from Mayan lands crossing the seas in search of peace, for all villages and all men and women we make peace, we live in peace. We talk about peace, we sing peace so that all lands, seas and winds be covered in peace. So that hands are united in the name of peace. We make peace, we live in peace. So that every man and woman of every creed and race are free and live in peace.”

Because to educate is to love and to love is to teach
Jose Diaz Torre
Managing Director

Translated to English by Emma Kirby

Photos

Alianz Comunidad Estudiantil