The "Only Hearts" Peace Project is an educational, empowering and fun-filled activity that can easily be downloaded from this web page (below) for use in classrooms, after-school programs, and in homes.

©dwij2001

"Only Hearts" begins easily and all in the community are invited to participate in the following way:

The Heart Shape that you download will print out on 8.5" X 11" paper. Within the confines of the Heart Outline participants are asked to illustrate their vision of "What A Peaceful World Looks Like To Me" using crayons, craypaw, or paints. On the reverse side students are asked to write a sentence or paragraph about their thoughts on peace or about "How I Will Make Peace A Reality In The World."

Once the art and writing projects are completed it's time to creatively discover the many ways in which their art can be displayed and featured in informative and educational ways. Whether in small study circles, in larger groups in classrooms, as an afterschool project, or at home, the fun, discovery and endless possibilities are just beginning to open doorways.   

Step Two . . . Presentation

There are many ways to take "Only Hearts" art to the next level in your school, community center, or home. For example: Creating a play, a skit, a game, making a video, incorporating it in lesson plans, or making a craft.    Click on Katie's heart and see what her community created.

Peace to me means NO WAR!  To me the colors of peace are blue, purple, pink, green, orange and yellow.    —Katie Billingsley

Step Three . . . Exhibiting - Be Creative!

For our project we chose 1,500 hearts and created a large outdoor arena in Sarasota Florida's Phillippi Estate Park. Many events took place in the arena and everyone was surrounded by the "Peace" visions and ideas of our children. We rented the tallest, 40' high, heart balloon in North America as our centerpiece and featured a marathon reading of the children's writings. Music, poetry, dancing, meditation, and a prayer vigil also happened in our arena.

Well, you could start Rainforest preservation programs with friends. It might save many rainforests all around the world.   —Stephen Phillips

Step Four . . . Linking with others?

If you'd like to link-up with folks in different communities around the US, or abroad, who are using "Only Hearts" as an educational, service oriented arts presentation, eMail us for information at: hearts@dwij,org   We're planning an exhibit featuring youngsters from many countries.

This picture shows how everything is so beautiful and it makes you feel like the wind is pushing against you.  —Lindsey Flugner

Step Five . . . Know that this is an awesome experience for youngsters!!!!

I chose to draw peace as a flower. Like a flower, peace is beautiful. But, also like a flower, it is fragile. Peace can be destroyed by parasites like war and anger. I hope that in the 21st century peace will be in full bloom.   —Tracy King

Step Seven . . . Let us know how your project is going!

We look forward to assisting you in creating a memorable experience for young people -and older folks too - in your neighborhood of Spaceship Earth. We CAN ALL embrace the world with Heart!

Your ideas and suggestions on the ways we can improve our "Only Hearts" project, and enhance the possibility of contributing toward peacemaking in an artistic, educational, and heartfelt way, is important to us.

Click for Art Gallery