On 1 June 2019, our Director and founder, Ms Aishwarya Somal, was appointed as Ambassador for Peace by The Universal Peace Federation Australia. This appointment recognised the ways in which Aishwarya has gone above and beyond in assisting others through her work and throughout her daily life and been an exemplary role model for promoting peace throughout society.
In her own capacity, Aishwarya has continuously promoted the founding ideals of the UPF. Transcending racial, national and religious barriers, the Ambassadors for Peace are also recognised for contributing to the fulfillment of the hope of all ages, a unified world of peace wherein the spiritual and material dimensions of life are harmonised.
Aishwarya wrote the following in relation to her appointment to this honorary position:
Firstly, I would like to thank the Universal Peace Federation, Australia for this most humbling appointment as Ambassador for Peace. I thank the organisers for today’s event celebrating UN Global Day of Parents, for their contribution to the promotion of peace and harmony and in promoting the areas of interfaith peacebuilding, peace education, and the strengthening of marriage and family.
I firmly believe that the core values of society have to be preserved and upheld as that is what sustains human life and progress and to my mind, will ensure peace and harmony in our society into the future.
There is profound wisdom in the various faith traditions where they universally applaud family values, such as filial piety, care for those less fortunate and respect for all irrespective of diversity.
On this day, I thought to share my thoughts on the value of family and what it means to me – As a mother to two very young children, I know that it takes a village to raise them. I am so blessed to have such a strong support network around me which enables me to do what I do. Family to me means respect and value for others, for differences of personality and viewpoints, to be committed to eachothers’ welfare and happiness to name just a few. At a deeper level, I feel family provides a cultural and moral compass and are an anchor throughout life’s various experiences and pressures. The pressures of the 21st century living are such that they can sometimes unhinge the strongest of individuals. But it is family and social groups that can come to the rescue and act as an anchor through that storm so to speak.
In Queensland, we are very blessed to be living in a multicultural society where we speak more than 220 languages and enrich the fabric of society with our various cultural backgrounds and heritage. To my mind, this is what makes Queensland dynamic and progressive. It is up to each one of us to add to this in our own way.
At a global level, family is the most relevant as we are increasingly realising that the world is a global village facing common problems such as poverty, lawlessness, wars, human migration, and climate change. We all have a very real responsibility at a micro level to uphold value for the family and most importantly concern for the human family as a whole.
I again thank UPF for this humbling recognition and pledge to do all I can within my capacity to make a valuable contribution to peace and harmony and to our human family.
