WCC NEWS: Women, children in Bethlehem plant seeds for just peace

The Arab Educational Institute and Pax Christi, through special activities for women and children, connected the World Council of Churches World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel with the Season of Creation. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 29 September 2026  At the Arab Educational Institute Sumud Story House, a women’s session brought together Muslim and Christian women from the community, focused on the themes of just peace, hope, solidarity, creation, sumud (perseverance) and the role of women in building peaceful communities. The women were invited to read posters, prepared for the session, containing short reflections and messages about peace, creation, hope, children, justice, and the importance of standing together. They paused, reflected, and shared their own thoughts and experiences. The posters also encouraged discussion about what peace means in their daily lives and how small actions can contribute to creating a more peaceful and supportive community.  The session then moved into a shared cooking activity—a cultural and social experience that brought the women closer together. They shared their knowledge, worked as a team, and enjoyed the process of preparing a traditional meal. After preparing the food, the women sat together and shared the meal as a group. This created a relaxed space for conversation, laughter, and connection. The shared meal highlighted the importance of food and hospitality in bringing people together and strengthening relationships within the community.  A children’s session was designed around the themes of just peace, childhood, hope, friendship, and living together in harmony in Palestine. The activities were planned to be fun and engaging while helping the children understand that peace is connected to safety, kindness, respect, friendship, and the right of every child to grow and live without fear. The session began with a creative coloring activity. Each child received a picture related to peace and harmony among people in Palestine. The children were encouraged to color the picture freely and use their imagination to represent what peace means to them. While the children were coloring, they were encouraged to think about questions such as what makes a person feel safe, what makes a community peaceful, and how children can show kindness to one another.  The children sang two songs related to peace and childhood. Singing together brought energy and enthusiasm to the session and allowed the children to express the themes of peace and hope in a fun and memorable way.  See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland