Peacemala - Universallove

Pam Evans is the founder of the Peace Mala. She is an honours graduate of the University of Wales and is an experienced teacher of World Faiths. Pam worked for over twenty years as Head of Department of Religious Studies in a Carmarthenshire school in West Wales. Pam is a member of the Anglican Church in Wales and is deeply involved with the Christian Buddhist Network of Great Britain. She is also a member of the Yungdrung Bon Tibetan Study Centre UK. She continues to study the mystical traditions of our world, practices meditation and is a Reiki & Seichim Master Teacher and healer. Pam is committed to inter-faith dialogue for peace. She sees this as a vital process in the current world climate of fear and misunderstanding. Her creation of the Peace Mala was certainly born out of the 9/11 disaster but was also influenced by personal experience and witness of intolerance and prejudice.

A Peace Mala is a symbolic bracelet that promotes friendship, respect and peace between the faiths and all people in our world. It cuts through all forms of prejudice and celebrates what makes us different from each other.

Each coloured bead on the Peace Mala represents a spiritual path or faith and carries the universal peace message known by many people as the Golden Rule. This rule encourages us to treat others as we wish to be treated. By focusing on the Golden Rule, people of all faiths can cooperate with one another without having to participate or believe in each other's particular belief system. This is a basis on which believers of all faiths and spiritual paths can work together for peace and mutual respect. Running through the peace mala is a simple thread which holds all the rainbow beads together. This may be called the Golden Thread of Spirituality which connects us all through the love in our hearts: acknowledging the Golden Rule and our spiritual unity opens up the pathway to peace. The Peace Mala is a vision of the future which celebrates diversity, while promoting unity, awareness, tolerance, compassion, forgiveness, and respect. Wearing the Peace Mala is a promise to help create a better world.

Winning class at Trallwn School with their teacher, Sian Hopkins (front), judges Ros Moule (to the right) and Pam El Hosaini (on left), and Pam Evans (at back)

The 2007 Peace Mala International Youth Awards have been won by Trallwn Primary School in Swansea and St Michaels in Llanelli, Wales. The Awards acknowledge any centre of learning which produces a project that encourages youngsters to become involved with issues of peace, justice, tolerance and friendship.

At the Ceremony in the Temple of Peace Cardiff, certificates were also given to Salem Youth Group from Pennsylvania, USA and Teesdale School from County Durham, UK.

The Peace Mala Youth Project began in a classroom in Wales in the aftermath of 9/11. Founder and teacher Pam Evans explains: "I wanted something simple but effective to engage the minds of young people: a symbolic bracelet that would be fun to make and wear." In 2002, they were granted a Prince's Trust Millennium award and the bracelet was launched in November the same year.

Mala, a Sanskrit word, means garland of flowers. It is also the term for strings of meditation or prayer beads. The beads of the Peace Mala represent the peaceful co-existence of the world's religions. "It's important for youngsters to learn that the diversity of the human race is to be celebrated and not feared," says Pam.

Hi Everyone,
Please go to 'You Tube' and search for 'Peace Mala Educational Film with Credits'. This has been put onto 'You Tube' by Delia of Imagine dpm Ltd. It would be wonderful if you could draw attention to this and invite as many people as possible to write positive comments on the film. May the message and vision of Peace Mala continue to touch the hearts and imaginations of all who long for a more positive and compassionate world.

If the purpose of the Peace Mala has struck a chord with you, you may want to help us in our initiative to fight prejudice and intolerance. Donations to Peace Mala will be very welcome and used to promote the message of harmony and respect.

An exciting new development for Peace Mala - Ricky Perrott from St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive in Llanelli took 40 teenagers on a Peace Mala Pilgrimage for World Peace to Italy this Easter. I've written a new book as a result of this pilgrimage - Using the Peace Mala to pray for World Peace (Peace Prayers, mantras and Nobles Sayings of the Peace Mala). The printer has done a great job with the designing layouts. We've used lots of photos from the Youth Awards plus two of the drawings from the film. The little book costs £2.99. The Dalai Lama already has one as does the Chief Rabbi and other world faith leaders.

We are now looking for suitable thread to make Peace Mala Prayer Beads - needs to be strong enough to use like a rosary and also to hold a golden tassle in place at the end! If you have any ideas, please let us know. The Peace Mala film is now available on DVD. It costs £3.99. It has both films plus two slide shows of the 2006 and 2007 Youth awards.

Please order your DVD and Book through our website.

Thank You.
Pam.