There is a saying in eastern Congo: “qui veut la paix prepare la guerre” (who wants peace prepares for war). This mantra represents the thinking that has fueled the violence that has enslaved children to fight in a war they should never be fighting in.
Our Congolese friend Francois proclaims instead: “qui veut la mort prepare la guerre mais qui veut la paix offre le pardon” (who wants death prepares for war, but who wants peace offers forgiveness).
Former child soldiers, our friends, will be given these shirts to wear as message bearers to their communities. Peace is the message. They will be the messengers.
Peace equals paix in french. You buy two paix shirts. One becomes your message. One becomes theirs. Each shirt has one side of a full set of wings.
Your wing points right. Their wing points left. The completed winged dove represents both the peace that can come and the Bearer of that peace. Children should never be soldiers. Let peace take flight.
[ALL proceeds from the sale of these shirts will fuel Discover The Journey’s quest to tell the story of child soldiers in the Congo.]
To all who bought the PAIX Shirt, thank you! Discover The Journey will arrive in the Congo July 15 to distribute the first round of 200 PAIX shirts to children of war.
