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“ARK helped me understand why I am here on this earth.”
Favour Mlowoka, Malawi, Africa
“I am thankful that out of all the countries in Africa, my small, poor country was chosen to be part of ARK. It is my responsibility to go home and share what I have become - a peacemaker.”
Caroline Magombo, Malawi
“In a world full of violence, plagued by AIDS, we cherish the opportunity to work for peace. ARK gave us the opportunity to talk and listen to each other about peace across borders, languages, cultures and religions. We began to hope for peace in our time. The investment made in ARK has made a difference in our lives and we know we can make a difference in the world.”
Dr. Rueben Chirambo
“ARK is my seocnd family. How beautiful it is when people from seven different countries feel that we are all members of one family. It gives me hope even for my walled-in city.”
Lina Abughazaleh, Bethlehem, Palestine
“ARK is amazing. I go home as a peace maker and leader. In my community there is no peace. But in ARK I learned peace can start one by one. I am that one.”
Lucy Al Qassmany, Bethlehem, Palestine
“ARK has grown peace in my heart. I need this in my community. ARK gave me new hope that peace is possible.”
Lara Muallem, Bethlehem, Palestine
“ARK not only changed my life. ARK has become my lifestyle.”
Walid Issa, Bethlehem, Palestine
“In ARK I learned about the culture of other countries. Their stories, their music, their problems. We beame a close family. ARK is our guiding star, which shows us the way towards truth and peace. I go home to pay more attention to the environment and the problems of my country and other countries.”
Inga Kurtkute, Lithuania
“All different, yet all equal. It is because of ARK that I truly got an understanding of what this means.”
Adomas Seputis
“it is nice to know, in a world so full of trouble, that there are people who search for peace. People who don\'t just think of themselves and really want to solve problems. This is what ARK is.”
Mohammad Kansor, Lebanon
“ARK worked miracles in our lives. We came to learn peacemaking. We left as peacemakers.”
Hala Goussous, Jordan
“ARK gave me the chance to be someone and to do something. I grew in my mind and spirit in truth and peace. ARK believed in me so I can believe in myself.”
Rand Algudsie, Jordan
“This year in ARK there were new faces, new voices, new experiences, new goals and achievements. Everyone worked to better ourselves and our world. Everything good is possible if we all work together.”
Alba Coz, Guatemala
“ARK has provided me with material and knowledge to grow into a globally conscious person. I try to make every day of my life modeled in the ARK fashion of peace, justice and unity. I read the news; I stay current with political issues; I realize that everything that occurs ripples across the world and affects everyone else for better or for worse. ARK will be my life work.”
Teresa Capecchi, Minnesota
“ARK made me step out of my comfort zone. Each time I did I was rewarded with knowledge, love and compassion. ARK, for me, was a life-changing experience. ”
Andi Akpe, Minnesota
“All the seven countries involved in ARK IV have shared their stories and hopes for the future. Ideas and plans that were shared can take flight. Even if the roads we take may be different, our peace-map is the same.”
Aaron Beswick, Minnesota
“For me, ARK is powerful, organized and motivated. As a first year participant, I was taken in like a brother at first site!”
Matas Drukteims, Lithuania
“I have never had peace in my life. I am from Bethlehem. However, ARK has given me the courage to go home and talk about peace building to everyone. I found hope for my lifelong pain.”
Mary Hannah Zreineh, Bethlehem, Palestine
“I return home to make the necessary changes in my family, work and community. I will practice justice to do what is right and I will put the healing of peace on all I do.”
Rudy Ajcalon Rosales, San Lucas, Guatemala
“I will begin as a nurse a the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis starting in July 2009. It is a job I feel called to do and that ARK has nurtured and led me to. Working with Vets every day, I am reminded of the need to prevent wars, create peace, and work hard to repair the wounds of war.”
Teresa Capecchi, RN, 2009 Graduate of Saint Benedict College, Nursing degree
“ARK V created the framework for youth gathering for the purpose of creating and nurturing peace. Relationships across countries, religions, race and beliefs were encouraged and realized. The knowledge for participants to arm themselves with loving hearts and open minds was deepened. They committed themselves to long term peace efforts and pledged their lives to involvement.”
Karen Sorensen, Yoga Instructor for ARK, Minneapolis, MN
“I have decided not to be silent when faced with the injustices and racism and violence that are very strong in my country. I will life up my voice to manifest my feelings in a peaceful manner. ARK is my model for living. I have been taught well.”
Pablo David Castro Ajcot
“ARK brings a positive energy to the world. It allows people to truly humanize and recognize one another in a world where humanity is so often denied.”
Kate Wolff, Minneapolis, MN - Wellesley graduate, June 2009. Degree in Peace and Justice Studies.
“ARK has taught me to stand up and speak out for what is right for people. I know my journey toward being an informed advocate for justice is just the beginning, but I am on the path now!”
Mark Rizk, Egyptian
“ARK has taught me what I can do right now despite the fact that I have no money and am very little in size. With the knowledge I have acquired from this program I will be able to build a world that has been scarred and arred into a world of love, diversity and most importantly peace. I will do this with the support of my ARK family.”
Wongile Mbano, Malawi
“ARK has given me tools that empower me to be a servant leader, a listening agent, an advocate in the face of injustices and a voice for the voiceless.”
Lihn Huyan, Vietnamese, student at Northwestern University. Began an internship in Vietnam, July 2009, with women and young girls who have been victims of sex trafficking.
“Because of ARK, I believe I can do something to change my world. I believe it really takes one person lighting a match to burn a whole forest.”
Chikondi Chabakha, Malawi - my first name means love
“I am going to work caring for abandoned kids who have lost parents because of AIDS. I will let them know they have dignity and hope because someone cares about them.”
Favour Milowoka, Malawi
“When all people and their meanings and choices can be validated, taken seriously and taken on by others, we can achieve the peace that ARK stands for.”
Aaron Beswick, student at Northwestern University, Illinois
“ARK is a top priority in my life. It has given me a global outlookthat I would never expected would be given to me.”
Maddie Hodapp, Minneapolis, MN
“ARK has changed my life. I know that the entire ARK family would say the same thing. We believe we can join with others to change this world to be a better place for everyone.”
Rashelle Ngando, Minneapolis, MN
“Many times people like me are not given a chance and yet, ARK believed in me. ARK has empowered me to know that I can do anything I set my mind to. I will be part of building a better world of justice and peace.”
Brittany Bodden, Minneapolis, MN
“ARK has planted and grown deep roots firming the plant of peace in my heart. It is now my responsibility to raise the values in my family, society and world to become a culture of peace.”
Evaldas Svageris, Lithuania
“I will use all the opportunties I have to stand up for powerless people, for the environment, for human rights. It will not be easy, but I will be patient with myself and other people.”
Inga Kurtkute, Lithuania
“ARK bought books that we will use in a peace sanctuary that ARK made down by our lake. I will go into this sanctuary and read to children every week and talk to them about their dignity and right to a good education and work. ARK has given me the courage to be the best I can be.”
Emmely Garcia Coz, San Lucas, Guatemala
“We have equal problems and others distinct, but above all we learn to love our neighbors and to share this love starting with the place where we find ourselves, in our family, our school or university, our job, or with the people from our community.”
Jose Leonel Tun, San Lucas, Guatemala
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>“ARK is like a tree of peace. It has been planted and taken root inside of us. I will bring the fruit of peace. You will see and taste it.”