Bringing Love and Peace to School: FOWPAL Delegation Sparks a Conscience Movement in Türkiye
Continuing its global efforts to promote a culture of love, conscience, and peace, the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) goodwill delegation visited Özel Adem Ceylan Final Teknik Koleji, a private technical college in Türkiye, on May 5, 2025. The delegation hosted the 2025 International Youth Forum, featuring captivating cultural performances that blended traditional Eastern martial arts with modern technology, warmly welcomed by the entire school community. FOWPAL volunteers also invited students and faculty to endorse three key declarations: the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope, the Declaration of Transparency and Integrity, and the Declaration of the International Day of Conscience. They encouraged students to transform conscience, sincerity, and hope into tangible actions, aiming to build a more trusting, harmonious, and prosperous world.
After the opening of the event, the college General Manager, Oğuzhan Ceylan, gave a speech on the importance of peace. He stated that peace is a state in which people live without harming one another, fighting, shedding blood, or using violence. In societies where peace prevails, there is no fear or anxiety—people look to the future with hope, and life becomes more peaceful and productive.
To truly understand the value of peace, one must reflect on times of war. The two world wars of the 20th century are examples of how ruthless people can become in the pursuit of their self-interest. These wars symbolize a tragedy where human life becomes worthless. He stressed that problems should be resolved through dialogue in a democratic, peaceful, and human rights–respecting environment. Peace between individuals and within a society undoubtedly contributes to global peace.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), then delivered a keynote speech. He remarked, “In the face of such rapid transformation, we must act with greater calmness, greater speed, and greater wisdom than ever before. Taking time for quiet reflection each day helps us look into the deepest part of ourselves and seek the forces of calmness and future direction—namely, conscience, hope, transparency, and integrity.” Dr. Hong further recommended, “Take five minutes daily to reflect and connect with your conscience. ” “ By settling the mind each day, engaging in self-reflection, praying for the world, and returning to our original pure and clear nature, we will naturally generate the power of hope and positive energy.” He also called on the public to “always embrace hope and help yourself and others with confidence, patience, and perseverance. ” “ On the foundation of continuous self-improvement and upholding principles of transparency and integrity, goodwill can be transformed into a trustworthy force that builds trust within society, helping the world move toward harmony and prosperity.”
On this occasion, Dr. Hong specially presented Mr. Oğuzhan Ceylan with a certificate of appreciation for cultural exchange, along with several meaningful gifts, including a unique piece of artwork. The painting symbolizes that when one’s heart is clear and pure, even in the midst of a dark and silent night sky, the light of the moon can illuminate the path forward. The artwork carries a profound message about inner clarity guiding one through uncertainty.
Following this was the youth forum. It brought together young people from diverse cultural backgrounds to explore how, in a rapidly changing world, one can create positive change for the planet and human society through inner conscience and outward action.
Zhang, Yongxiang, a FOWPAL volunteer, shared a moving story from last year’s International Day of Conscience event in the United States, where a marching band's performance deeply touched passersby. He believes that music can cleanse the conscience and evoke resonance, demonstrating how consistently following one’s conscience, speaking kind words, and doing good deeds can activate positive energy and create a field of goodness. He encouraged everyone to take five minutes each day to pray for the world, engage in self-reflection, and make every choice with integrity—becoming seeds of peace that bring stability to the world.
Yalcın Özc, a student at the school, referenced scientific research showing that children and young people require social experiences based on love, respect, and trust within their families, communities, and with their teachers to develop a strong, effective, and positive sense of self and personality. He emphasized that ensuring children's emotional fulfillment through values such as love, respect, trust, and compassion throughout their development and education processes is a necessity for the future of the world and humanity. Society, he suggested, should start teaching the true meaning of love from preschool, making love as fundamental a human need as bread, water, and air, and guiding students to learn how to love one another. Love, he stated, is not only a moral virtue but also a vital necessity for both individual and societal life, nurturing capable and value-driven individuals who contribute positively to society and the future.
Student Kerem Hoşoğlu addressed the importance of love, peace, and social values, stressing that preventing conflicts on a global scale is a significant issue facing humanity. He noted that resolving such challenges requires a comprehensive approach, with collaboration and cooperation among the international community being essential. He highlighted that world peace and sustainability are interdependent concepts—achieving sustainability helps create the necessary environment for world peace, and likewise, establishing peace makes it more feasible to reach sustainability goals.
Wang, Kaiyu, a university junior from Taiwan, illustrated his point with a simple example: when a faucet is leaking, what compels people to turn it off is not the law or regulations, but conscience and a love for the Earth’s sustainable future. He emphasized that conscience is like a compass for sailors, guiding us to make the right decisions. Quoting Gandhi, he said, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world,” and encouraged everyone to let conscience light the way and turn aspirations into meaningful actions.
Wang, Xinping, a project manager and volunteer of the cultural goodwill delegation, shared her experience of preparing a welcoming event with her team. She explained how a willingness to share openly and wholeheartedly among team members made the process more transparent and efficient. She also cited a 2018 organic food fraud case in the United States to illustrate how the absence of transparency and integrity can seriously damage public trust. Rebecca emphasized that even small actions—like offering a sincere compliment—can foster positive communication and reduce misunderstandings, as long as we listen to our conscience and speak with sincerity.
After the inspiring sharing of insights on love, peace, and conscience, the event continued with a series of visually and audibly stunning performances. The climax began with a breathtaking scene as the Eastern dragon and phoenixes descended to Earth, bestowing blessings upon humanity. These sacred creatures representing auspiciousness and prosperity, danced together in harmony, leading the audience into a celestial realm.
Following this awe-inspiring opening, young volunteers took the stage, blending ancient martial arts with modern digital technology to present a powerful fusion of traditional chivalry and contemporary dance. Their cross-generational performance offered a visual spectacle that bridged the past and the future.
The finale featured the Energy Boys and Energy Girls, dressed in vibrant orange, performing the uplifting song “The Power of Peace and Love.” Their spirited voices and hopeful message deeply moved the audience. The captivating series of performances kept the crowd fully engaged, with waves of applause and cheers echoing throughout the venue.
After the event, the representative of the school also expressed deep feelings and support. Oğuzhan Ceylan, in an interview, stated that as soon as the youth know each other, understand each other, they will respect one another, and they will create peace and love. He expressed his admiration for Dr. Hong’s long-term dedication to promoting peace and love. He was very happy to help spread this message to the world, including his region and country, emphasizing its great importance. Oğuzhan Ceylan also shared that the positive energy brought by the visiting delegation helped the students integrate and get to know each other better, which he felt was extremely beneficial.
The college's English teacher, Nermin, was responsible for translating Dr. Hong's speech into Turkish, allowing all faculty and students to better understand the content of the speech. She felt that Dr. Hong's speech was filled with peace and love and believed that the performance was perfect.
The forum ended on a high note, filled with the energy of conscience and love. Students lined up to endorse the declarations and shared heartfelt thoughts on how to contribute to a peaceful world through action and reflection. Their responses revealed a strong desire to become key forces in brings love and peace to the world.