During the following four days of the Assembly, delegates from all the countries above presented their reports and activities for peace in their regions, as well as various special cultural programs. For example, Korean delegates honored the assembly with a “Dastar bandi” ceremony, where a turban symbolizing recognition and respect was passed around to the leaders of each country.

On another evening, participants took a trip around the world through Herm Weaver’s “Dream Song” and a slideshow of inspiring photos of what URI is doing across the globe. Each of these colorful ceremonies focused on unity, togetherness, and mutual respect between the nations present at the conference. In her keynote address, Ms. Yoland Triveno, Chairperson of the Global Council URI said with great joy that the vision and purpose of URI, which started as a dream, is coming true through everyone at the Assembly meeting person to person. 

Many of the activities included children, emphasizing the passing of peace-making efforts to a new generation. In one ceremony, children and adults planted peace trees representing each of their countries. These seeds of peace will grow into trees that will remain historic landmarks for URI. Also, an “Angels of Peace” ceremony was held where children in the Salwan Public School system were recognized for committing themselves to peace and interfaith harmony.

Dr. Abraham Karickam was touched by the statement from a young girl from the Salwan School when, shortly after he narrated a story on “How a few women stopped a war in Wajir,” an excerpt from John Paul Lederach’s Moral Imagination: the Art and Soul of Peacebuilding, she approached him and said, “If Kenyan women can work wonders, why not we?” As Bhatti said, “The involvement of students of Salwan Public School is amazing, and is a healthy sign for the coming generations and vision of URI for Youth is coming true.”

Delegates also took the opportunity to fellowship with one another by taking excursions to view historic and cultural landmarks in New Delhi such as the Qutab Minar, Ghandi Samadi, Jain Mandar, and the Lotus Temple. The Pakistan delegates also took the opportunity to travel to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world.