Embassy Press Release

English Language Creative Arts Collaboration for Romanian Students

December 22, 2008

A group of American Peace Corps Volunteers, Romanian teachers and Romanian students are launching a nationwide English-language art journal entitled „Peace Begins With Us.”

Romanian students of all ages are invited to submit fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photography and studio art on the overall theme of how “Peace Begins With Us.” The best works will be published in a 100-page art journal.

The goal of the project is to promote world peace through intercultural communication and free expression. About 150 American Peace Corps volunteers work in 39 of 41 Romanian counties, in cities as large as Bucuresti and towns as small as Hasmas (population 400). Art submitted by these volunteers will be published in the same art journal.

Sample questions for students to answer include:

• What is the relationship between peace and freedom?
• What do you see as your individual responsibility for building peace in your nation, region, and/or world?

The deadline for submissions is February 1, 2009.

Students may submit their art on the organization’s website http://www.peacecorps.ro/peacebeginswithus/. Alternative ways of submission may be coordinated via Joël McClurg at 0733-422-273 or Zack Baddorf at 0749-617-478.

The resulting publication will be published online in June 2009 in PDF and HTML format. The art journal organizers hope to publish the works in book format and to provide a copy of this book to every student whose work is published. Anyone interested in donating their time or resources to accomplish this goal should contact the organizers.

Romanian teachers are encouraged to invite their students to submit their own art. Teachers can also download a sample lesson plan on creative writing on the organization’s website.

For media interviews about this project, contact:

Joël McClurg
073-342-2273

Zack Baddorf
074-961-7478

Oana Patap
072-064-8111

Email: peacebeginswithus@gmail.com

For more information: http://www.peacecorps.ro/peacebeginswithus/

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