All 626 Members of the European Parliament from fifteen member states will receive Urdd Gobaith Cymru’s Message of Peace and Goodwill from all-Wales MEP Jill Evans this Saturday (17th May) to mark Peace and Goodwill Day.

Ms Evans is a former member of the Urdd and recently welcomed an Urdd delegation from Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy in Llanrwst to Brussels to promote the message, which this year aims to raise awareness amongst the children and young people of Wales about the lives of the children and young people of Calcutta in India.

Speaking from Brussels Ms Evans, who is a leading peace campaigner and Chair of CND Cymru, said:

"Fostering international understanding is one of the bedrocks of the European Union and I hope that by sending this message to all members of the European Parliament we will be able to bring all our nations closer together in a spirit of peace and goodwill."

"Having just returned from Palestine where I saw graphic examples of suffering at the hands of violence, injustice and poverty I think it’s more important than ever for Welsh youth to be aware of why we need to create a fairer world."

The first Message of Peace and Goodwill was sent eighty years ago in 1922 and it has been the inspiration behind the good citizenship and international activities of the Urdd. It was sent by the Reverend Gwilym Davies from Cwm Rhymni, a pacifist who was at the forefront in establishing the Welsh Union of the United Nations and later UNESCO. The Message was transmitted by the BBC World Service in 1924 and by today it appears on the World Wide Web in 12 languages and reaches all four corners of the world.

Jill Evans MEP added:

"Promoting good citizenship amongst the Urdd members through various activities which educate young people about cultures, religions, faiths and the differences and similarities of the lives of children and young people all over the world will help broaden their horizons and bring children of all nations closer together."

The message reads:

"Let us unite together worldwide in the Welcome Calcutta campaign, whatever our faith or belief. Let us learn through Christian Aid projects about the lives of the poor, the homeless and those who suffer violence and injustice.

By sharing experiences and a new culture we can develop respect and love towards each other. By learning about each other, our friendship will build bridges and hopefully close the door on ignorance and open the door to justice and peace.

Christian Aid questions why poverty exists and believes that change is needed to create a fairer world and to ensure that poor people do not remain destitute. All of us can be a part of this change; by uniting together, we can make a difference."

Diwedd/Ends.