(Minghui.org) Many children enjoyed learning about Falun Dafa and participated in activities at the Falun Dafa booths during three large events in the Bremen area this month. September 2014 was proclaimed as Children's Month in Germany. This year's theme centered around the strengths and rights of children.
The Falun Dafa booth was constantly crowded with children during the events.
Pictures above: Children at the Bremen and Archim festivals proudly show their origami work. They considered them “treasures.”
The Lotus, known as a sacred flower for Buddhists, symbolizes purity. A girl happily presents her work at the festival in the city of Archim in the Bremen area.
Bremen’s Children’s Day: Developing Strength
The Children’s Day Festival in Bremen was held at the Burgerpark, a public park that celebrated its 25-year anniversary on September 14, 2014. Approximately 700 volunteers and 55,000 visitors attended the event. This was the fourth time that Falun Dafa practitioners were invited to participate.
The theme of the event this year was about helping children develop the strength to handle future problems in society. Falun Dafa practitioners shared their perspective with visitors.
“Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, teaches the three universal principles, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, as well as five peaceful exercises,” said Rosa, a Falun Dafa practitioner.
She continued, “This cultivation practice is thousands of years old, and deeply rooted in ancient traditional Chinese culture. We perform the exercises and tell the children and their parents why this is important in today’s society. It asks people to be honest with each other, compassionate and kind, as well as patient and tolerant, and to persevere in the face of problems.”
“I spoke to one of the mothers about the three values taught by Falun Dafa, and I could see tears filling her eyes. She was deeply touched, but was unable to express why she felt the way she felt after hearing the three Dafa principles. In my opinion, she felt this way because deep inside ourselves we all know how much these values affect a person’s life, especially so during today’s time.”
Practitioner Alina, 22 years old from Hildesheim, recounted how Falun Dafa encouraged her. She started practicing five years ago, after she turned 17 years old.
“I used to be totally exhausted at the end of a school day, and had to take a nap in the afternoon. I also took everything to heart and suffered nightmares. Despite having a great number of friends I always felt that I just wasn’t truly appreciated.
“However since practicing Falun Dafa my mind has become clear and fresh, and I can overcome everyday problems. I feel that I was strengthened as a person and have been told that I exude positive energy and have become more even-tempered.”
Elke, a mother of two, came to the booth from Hildesheim. She said, “Falun Dafa is a way that can be taught to children, because the exercises are easy to learn. This is what I want to share with the children and grownups. I’m glad about the good weather, and that it brought to us so many open-minded people.”
Persecution of Children Exposed in Verden
Verden held its Children's Month event in the center of town on September 20. Given that it was the 15th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Conventions, the event was dedicated to children’s rights.
The Falun Dafa booth was an important place where the Verden locals could learn about the ordeals of practitioners’ children in China.
Based on the Chinese regime's “guilty by association” policy, these children have become victims during the fifteen-year-long persecution, only because their parents are Falun Dafa practitioners.
Children as Victims of the Persecution: Presentation at the Children's Month event in Verden in the Bremen area
Mariken, the mother of an eight month old baby, said, “By distributing the lotus flowers, practitioners emphasize to the visitors that innocent children and their families suffer under the brutal persecution of Falun Dafa in China. These ‘petals of peace’ symbolize hope for all children that suffer because of the persecution of Falun Dafa in China. Children worldwide can make lotus flowers, and through this learn about the suffering of the children in China … This allows us to have the children help in ending the persecution.”
Lutz Brockmann, Verden’s mayor, was very taken by the practitioners’ efforts. He read the boards about ordeals of the children persecuted in China. He was aware of the persecution and wished practitioners best of luck.
Verden’s Mayor Brockman wishes the practitioners best of luck in their undertakings.
Mayor Brockman found it ideal that children could learn the ordeals of children in China by making Lotus flowers, “It is important to spread the information by doing something positive.” He stopped by at a later time to learn how to make the lotus flowers.
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Category: Parades & Other Community Events
