Mothers Against Violence In America MAVIA

In my small community many think it would never happen here! People seem to think we are invincible, but that's where they are wrong. On the dreadful day of April 20th the students at Columbine didn't have a worry in their minds about violence. Maybe about girlfriend, boyfriends, and parties but not violence. Everyone knows the end of this story, but to tell you the truth it's not the end. It's still happening everywhere in the world and there is still people that aren't acknowledging it. When going to school on the anniversary of Columbine half of my school was empty. They were scared or maybe they just wanted an excuse not to come to school, but the point is they were generally afraid to come to school. This is horrible that the students were frightened that violence might take away their care free life. I know MAVIA and SAVE have made an impact on reducing violence. And I wish that one day kids will be able to play and go to school with out the fear of violence.

We had a peace pledge when I was in elementary school. Last year I was asked to talk to classrooms at that school about my Global Youth Peace and Tolerance award and all the elementary school kids eagerly recited that peace promise with me. When are you too old to say and believe in a peace pledge? How about you? How about now?

I will be a peaceful person.

I will make this world a more peaceful place.

I will set a peaceful example for others to follow.

Your support of SAVE and MAVIA will help make this peace pledge ageless. It may be hard for you to imagine leaders of warring nations pledging peace, but remember to listen to the voices you just heard!

Thank you.

Tell us why this student should be recognized as a peacemaker in our community (250 words). Nickole Evans of Washington State, USA, age 15, has averaged 20 + hours a month for volunteering for different community agencies over the last 4 years. The turning point in focusing her volunteer attention on peace and non-violence came in February 1998, when local Bosnian youth refugees shot her and her friend with a BB gun. Only bruised she help console the families when the youth were taken to the Juvenile Justice Center. The families were really upset, should their children be taken by the police in Bosnia, they might never see them again. Then after the Columbine incident it became evident that additional programs needed to be developed to prevent a Columbine incident happening in Nickole's community. Nickole became the teen voice for the area and presented her web pages on "It Could Happen Here", "Youth Speak Out", and "Becoming a Peacemaker" to the local community. Her dedication to this issue led to her starting a local branch of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE). January 16, 2000 she spearheaded the first ever Columbia Basin S.A.V.E Leadership Retreat. Once the retreat was done she put their experience on the web as a SAVE On-Line Retreat to share with the youth that were unable to attend. See www.tcfn.org/save to share in the experience of Students Against Violence Everywhere Leadership Retreat. She has been appointed as the only student to be represented on the Safety Committee at Kennewick High School. She is an honor student, involved in Band, and Freshman Class President. Submitted by Ronda Evans, RECA Foundation President.