Celebrating peace, unity and community spirit in Woking
Children, faith communities and local residents come together to celebrate International Day of Peace.
EVENT REPORTS
Kawther Hashmi
11/5/20262 min read
What does peace mean to you, and how can we inspire the next generation to build a kinder, more peaceful world?
These were the themes at the heart of Woking's International Day of Peace celebration, held on Saturday 26 September 2026 at Mercia Walk in Woking town centre.
Organised by Woking People of Faith (WPOF), the event brought together more than 50 people for a joyful celebration of peace, creativity, music and community spirit.
Inspiring the next generation
One of the highlights was the involvement of local schoolchildren, with four schools participating in a creative competition inviting pupils to express their understanding of world peace through posters and poems.
The competition encouraged young people to reflect on kindness, respect and the importance of living together harmoniously.
The Mayor of Woking, Cllr Rob Leach, attended to present prizes to the delighted winners, recognising their creativity and encouraging them to continue promoting peace in their communities.
Different faiths, one shared message
Representatives from different faith traditions shared short readings and reflections on peace, highlighting the values of compassion, understanding and respect that unite communities.
An enjoyable live musical performance brought people together, with participants joining in and embracing the spirit of the occasion. Henna painting also proved popular, adding colour and enjoyment to the celebrations.
Taking place in the heart of Woking, the event welcomed passers-by and created a wonderful atmosphere of togetherness, with people of different faiths, cultures and generations standing side by side.
One participant beautifully captured the spirit of the day:
"It is a wonderful way to encourage young people to participate in events like this, where they can see people from different faiths standing side by side, singing along, and celebrating their diversity together, we need more of these events."
Building peace together
The celebration was a wonderful reminder that peace begins in our own communities, through the friendships we build, the respect we show one another and the example we set for future generations.
A special thank you to Simon Trick, who led much of the organisation, the participating schools, performers, faith representatives, volunteers and everyone who contributed to making the day such a success. Thanks also to Woking United Reformed Church for its financial support.
The event demonstrated the power of bringing people together, celebrating our diversity and recognising the values we share.