International Peace Days at LCC International University
2026-09-24
This year, from 21–26 September, LCC International University once again came together to honor International Peace Days, this time exploring the journey "From Division to Connection." Through storytelling, art, and shared reflection, our community turned its attention to themes of racism, social justice, belonging, and human connection — inviting students, staff, and faculty to listen more closely to one another and to the wider world. The week opened with the Gallery of Stories, held in the Alumni Gallery, where students shared original paintings, photographs, drawings, poetry, and other creative works exploring their own perspectives on division and connection. The gallery became a quiet but powerful space, where art spoke what words sometimes cannot, inviting viewers to pause and consider the experiences of others through a creative lens. On 21 September, the community gathered in the Learning Commons Atrium for the Circle of Stories: Different Roots, Equal Worth. From 18:30 to 20:00, students came together for an evening dedicated to listening, reflecting, and sharing personal stories about bias, racism, and belonging. It was an evening that made space for both discomfort and connection, reminding participants that understanding one another often begins simply with the willingness to listen.Evelina Klava, a junior from Latvia, reflected on her experience in the Circle of Stories:"The Sharing Circle was a meaningful reminder of how different our experiences can be, even when we share the same spaces and communities. It was interesting to hear stories that I might not otherwise think about. Some funny, some difficult, and some deeply troubling. Yet, through all the different experiences, I found myself coming back to one simple idea: we all have a role in making others feel welcome, wherever they are. Perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other." The following day, 22 September, the community paused once more for Lighting the Path: A Global Peace Vigil, held in the Alumni Gallery from 12:00 to 13:00. Over the lunch hour, students and staff set aside their daily routines to reflect together and stand in solidarity with people and communities around the world affected by war and conflict. Among those who spoke was Irene Harutyunyan, a sophomore from Armenia, whose words carried the weight of a homeland still living with the realities of conflict. She shared that only days earlier, on September 19, Armenians had marked the anniversary of Azerbaijan's 2023 offensive against Artsakh, which forced more than 100,000 people from their homes. For her, Irene explained, Artsakh is not merely a place on a map, but home, memory, family, and belonging. She read a few lines from Artsakh-born poet Vazgen Ovyan, whose verses speak of mountains that carry ancient legends of unwavering spirit, stories passed down through centuries until they became songs within the soul. Irene closed by sharing what peace means to her: being able to call somewhere home without fear of losing it. She lit a candle for all those who have lost a home, a loved one, or a sense of belonging because of war, and voiced a hope that no child would have to learn the meaning of war before learning the feeling of peace. This year's International Peace Days once again reminded the LCC community that peace is not an abstract ideal, but something built through the courage to share, the willingness to listen, and the choice to see one another fully. Through the Gallery of Stories, the Circle of Stories, and the Peace Vigil, students and staff were invited to move from division toward connection — not by ignoring difference, but by honoring it. In a year still marked by conflicts around the world, from ongoing wars to the lingering grief of displacement, these gatherings offered something quietly powerful: a reminder that within our own community, roots may differ, but worth remains equal, and that welcoming one another may be one of the greatest gifts we have to give.
