A year ago Dru Volunteer, Sheila Roberts, had a dream to have the World Peace Flame (WPF) lit in every country of the world. Thanks to her determination that dream is now a reality as the Flame has been lit in 223 countries! Here she describes the story of how the Flame reached the second to last country, Iran...

At first, finding a way of getting a WPF candle to Iran was proving difficult, with many leads coming to naught—then suddenly we got lucky. Someone put us in touch with a young Iranian lady called Kamin, who lives and works in London. She was instantly enthusiastic. She had a friend coming to visit and would ask him to take a WPF candle back to Iran when he went home, and light it there.

Her friend arrived a week later. Ali (name changed to protect identity) works in a large hospital in Iran, caring for the victims of landmines, and was visiting several countries in Europe. Whilst in The Netherlands Ali had visited The Hague and seen what he described as a very beautiful peace monument outside the Peace Palace. The monument contained an eternal flame and he immediately decided that he would like to have such a flame in his hospital—but had no idea how to go about making this happen. Little did he know that this was in fact a World Peace Flame monument! Imagine his astonishment when he arrived in London—only to be handed a WPF candle by Kamin! “You’ll never guess what I’ve got for you!” she said, when he described the monument he’d seen in The Hague.

He took the candle back to Iran, and it was lit by Mohsen, a peace activist who was blinded and lost both hands when injured by landmines. He now teaches computer skills to other blinded war veterans—many of whom have academic degrees.

Mohsen lit the candle in a special ceremony during the F.O.R. (Fellowship of Reconciliation) delegation’s visit. The Flame was then transferred to a much larger candle— which was placed in a peace exhibition where other people could come and light their candles too.

Mohsen said later that although he was unable to see the Flame, it gave him the hope to believe that peace would one day prevail on Earth and that he prayed that this ‘flame of friendship would remain lit forever’...
Kamin later put us in touch with someone who went on to Western Sahara, the final country awaiting the arrival of the Flame.

We’ve loved having Dru Yoga teacher Mouli MacKenzie join us this summer at our North Wales centre, Snowdonia Mountain Lodge, where she’s been using her considerable information design skills to the fullest.
“It’s very rewarding to work alongside such a creative and inspired group, on projects which we know are making a real difference to people’s lives. I’m experiencing a great feeling of connectedness—sharing ideas and ideals, contributing and participating, combining professional skills with what I am most passionate about— Dru Yoga—and having great fun too!”

Mouli’s been working closely with our graphics team creating publications which we hope will inspire people the world over.