The Doves Youth Group, who meet at St David’s Priory Catholic Church, in the Centre of Swansea, were awarded The Peace Mala award for their work in helping community cohesion.

The Doves are the first UK Youth Group to receive the prestigious Peace Mala Accreditation. To receive the award members youth group attended a very special ceremony hosted by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Swansea. Pam Evans presented the Peace Mala certificate and Flag to the youth group, whilst Bishop Tom, Pam El-Hosaini (a trustee of Peace Mala), Father Ceirion and proud Doves parents and youth leaders looked on.

To achieve the award, the group focused on seven areas of action, including celebration of diversity, education, human rights and conflict resolution. The Youth Group has been enthusiastically dedicated in working towards this award for many months. They have been raising awareness about the environment around them with help from a Swansea Council Biodiversity Officer, they have been learning about other religions with a Buddhist nun, combating bullying with BulliesOut and tasting fair trade products with Fairtrade Swansea. During this work the youngsters and their supporters raised in excess of £1,400 for various charities including WaterAid, the Pakistani Appeal and the Christian Lewis Trust.

The Peace Mala award was set up in 2001 to promote racial understanding after the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York. The concept of Peace Mala has been endorsed by His Holiness John Paul II as well as other international Religious Leaders such as the Dalai Lama.

Pam Evans stated “The young Doves members have shown tremendous commitment to achieving Peace Mala accreditation in less than 6 months. Our message is: ‘Treat others as you would wish them to treat you’ and the group has focussed on this ethic throughout the accreditation process. We are now encouraging other youth groups from all over the UK to achieve this accreditation so they too can benefit from the values that the project brings to young people through the engagement in activities that promote peace and respect between all communities.”

Bishop Tom commented on the Doves “Marvellous endeavour” and that “even more is expected in future from the Doves Youth Group”, and congratulated the Doves as they had “brought together different cultures, religions and lifestyles, and promoted sharing a mutual understanding”.

The Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cllr Lewis also congratulated the Doves and stated that “We as Catholics have to get out there and show we are doing the business – which is exactly what you have done.”

Cllr Lewis continued: “I am delighted with the efforts made by everyone at the youth group. They are a credit to Swansea. Swansea is a City of Sanctuary and it has been wonderful to witness the various groups and schools here who have taken up this initiative to learn about and respect others, whatever their faith or culture.”

Rachel Davies – Doves Youth Group