LAHORE: School children drew attention towards the message of peace through their artwork displayed during an exhibition. Rung Event Planners, in collaboration with the Lahore Art Council, had organised the competition with the theme: ‘Mujhay Dushman Kay Bachon Ko Parhana Hai’ (I have to educate the children of the enemy). Visitors and students said that martyrs of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar would always alive in their hearts. “We pay tribute to them through this artwork,” the students said. “This is our revenge from those cowards who attacked and killed teachers and innocent students in 2014,” they said. As many as more than 250 selected artworks on the theme were displayed at gallery. In the competition, around 2,500-3000 students of approximately 600 campuses of more than dozen educational intuitions participated from Lahore and Gujranwala city including Beaconhouse, Lahore Grammar School (LGS), The Lahore Alma, Punjab School, SOS, City School, Shareef Education Complex, LACAS, Allied School and others. Rung Event Planners Creative Head Muhmmad Ali Zafar told Daily Times that the event had been held to highlight the message of peace. “When I asked children about the biggest enemy the country was facing, they replied that it was India. We need to come out from this mindset and tell our children that those who are against our education, humanity and the sovereignty of the country are our real enemies. The education must be used to defeat terrorism. We have divided students into three groups on the basis of their classes. The first group comprises students from grade 1 to 3, the second from 4 to 7 and the third group from class 8th to 10th. These selected artworks have been put on display after being reviewed by our jury members,” he said. A student of Grade 4 from Lahore Grammar School, Minahil Tirmizi, said: “I have tried to give a message of peace through my work. We can promote peace and change mindsets by using art as a tool. We should be united against our enemy and take a stand for humanity. Educational institutions are for promoting peace. Terrorism can only be stopped by spreading the light of knowledge,” she said. Another student from Beaconhouse, Dua Fatima, said that she drew stairs and the tower of a book. “Success cannot be achieved without getting education. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” she said. Fizza Hassan, an O level student from The Lahore Alma, said that everyone should try to get education because education was your only loyal friend that never left you, especially during tough times. She said that we are always ready to face the attack of our enemy with the power of education. We can control many issues through getting education. Terrorists are humans and we need to change their mindsets, which is possible by giving a message of peace and encourage people to get education,” she said. At the end, Chief Guest Nayar Ali Dada and jury members distributed prizes and certificates among the winners and appreciated their efforts and artwork for the promotion of peace and education. Published in Daily Times, December 11th 2017.