CAIRO: A Peace Day Celebration was held at the Gezira Sporting Club on Friday in honor of World Peace Day, which is scheduled for September 21. From two until eight in the evening various booths and tables were set up on the club's football field, as well as an entertainment stage. The Peace Day Celebration was done in coordination with MasterPeace, a multinational NGO that aims to be “the most heartwarming global peace project ever.” The MasterPeace Play area was filled with children by 3pm. “Sesame Street” played on a large TV screen while children painted pictures, played with clay, or had their faces painted. The aim was to involve the children in creating their own peace symbol, which would be displayed that evening for club members to view. Throughout the afternoon, life-size Sesame Street characters came out to greet the children. The MasterPeace Stage featured local band Zabaleen, whose unique performances have become popular around Cairo. Named after Cairo's garbage collectors, Zabaleen primarily uses recycled junk for instruments and promotes recycling and taking care of one's environment. One of the band's original songs implores listeners to “give peace a chance.” Joined by a saxophone and an acoustic guitar, audiences of all ages are fascinated and impressed with Zabaleen's musical creativity. Audience members at Friday's performance ranged from toddlers in the arms of their nannies to youth and older Egyptians. Later in the evening, “Ana Masry” was scheduled to give a performance of well-loved Egyptian songs. Gezira Club's Peace Day Celebration also featured the “MasterPeace Experience,” which included various workshops facilitated by local and regional NGOs. The workshops included at mind and body wellness workshop at 3pm followed by a photography session and 4. For more information about the MasterPeace initiative, visit their website: www.masterpeace.org. BM
