"After the festival when the school year began, I could see more openness among the children, more aliveness, not thinking so much about wars or politics, simply enjoying their childhood. The parents say it was the best thing that ever happened in their lives When we asked in the school for children to volunteer at the gypsy center, we found that most of those who volunteered were graduates of the Festival."
Sinisa Jukic, Gym teacher, Belgrade
"The main touching and encouraging element was the smile and joy on the faces of most of our children who were deprived of this smile because of hatred, tension, lack of human dignity and lack of mutual recognition of rights and the acceptance of one another as humans."
Fuad Giacaman, Arab Educational Institute, Bethlehem
"I wear with pride a necklace containing 240 beads made by those Zulu children who ran-one for each kilometer run uphill through the heat of the day to the final destination Those beads remind me that building peace on earth is a long uphilljourney in which all of us have to play our part."' "
Christine and David Willis, Thessalonica
"After this wonderful experience the staff involved with these children noted a tremendous change in their attitude and their perception of life as people with disabilities. They started showing a positive outlook on life as a whole and as a result they all made through to the end of the year."
Denis Tobakin, coordinator of visually impaired Zulu runner, Durban