Helsinki, Finland—The 2018 Peace Road event started with a walk through central Helsinki and ended at a peace-themed program in the Finnish Parliament.
The event was organized jointly by the Finnish branches of UPF and Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), an affiliated organization, on August 14, 2018.
Starting at Senate Square, the participants walked through the busy city center to the Parliament, where an indoor program was awaiting them in the Visitors’ Center.
Current Member of Parliament Mika Niikko, the host in the Visitors’ Center; former Member of Parliament Lauri Oinonen; and Fatima Usman, the president of the NGO Afaes, greeted the participants.
In addition to the general theme “Connecting the World through Peace,” we set a national theme: “Finland on the Highway of Building Peace and Conflict-Solving Skills.”
Speakers touched on these topics, including personal memories, encouragement and suggestions for next year’s Peace Road. Watching a video that covered the Peace Road 2018 events and many different ways of standing for peace around the world, the participants felt a spirit of unity with other nations.
Two dozen people gathered this year at the rally in Senate Square, with some more joining the event after coming from work.