One Flower At A Time

Four years ago Federico Hewson, an American performance artist living in Amsterdam, asked himself a hypothetical question: Would it be possible to bring Valentine’s Day, the day of Love, together with the cause of Peace, since Love and Peace are intimately connected, to create a celebration of inner, community, and global peace? From this query and his resounding positive affirmation, Valentine Peace Project was born.

Averting war is the work of politicians; establishing peace is the work of education. ~ Maria Montessori

Valentine Peace Project has grown into a collective of schools, programs, and artists advancing peace worldwide. Partnering with such organizations as One World Flowers, United Network of Young Peacebuilders, Where Peace Lives, and others, Valentine Peace Project is spreading peace, one flower at a time.

Federico Hewson and peace volunteer: out for deliveries!

Throughout Amsterdam volunteers braved extreme cold on Valentine’s Day this year to spread the warmth of peace to passersby and residents. Attached to each of the 6000 flowers distributed that day was a poem or thought about peace gifted by adults and students, like this one, from distant Los Angeles:

Instead of wanting roses
Or chocolates (just a few).
What I want, from the heart,
Is peace from me to you.
Roxanne, Marlborough High School

When I asked Federico to share a highlight, he sent this message:

I think what was most memorable was a large group of tourists from the Czech Republic that posed for photos and were absolutely thrilled to receive poetry and told me this would be a trip to Amsterdam they would never forget. They were making peace signs at us as they went on their way holding their roses. I knew they would share their poems as well.

Thanks to the initial vision of a single person and the now-growing efforts of hundreds of Valentine Peace Project volunteers, contributors, and supporters, when February 14th rolls around again next year many more of us will make that essential connection between Love and Peace and integrate it into acts of kindness toward our companion life-travelers.

All images for this post were provided courtesy of Valentine Peace Project.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like to read: The Magic And Music Of Santa Cruz Woody.

Tagged as: February 14th, Federico Hewson, flowers, kindness, Maria Montessori, Marlborough High School, New World Flowers, peace, United Network of Young Peacebuilders, Valentine Peace Project, Where Peace Lives