G—NEWS (DILI) — Local businesses and arts organizations joined forces with Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace NGO, for its third Peace Mural Project, contributing donated materials and artistic skills.
Held at Universidade da Paz (UNPAZ) in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, the project brought together local businesses, arts organizations, and university student volunteers to create a mural centered on peace education.
HWPL first launched its Peace Mural Project at the Xanana Sports Center in 2023, followed by a second mural in Kakaulidun in 2024. The third project focused on peace education, incorporating the cover design and educational content of HWPL’s peace education textbooks into the mural.
The initiative forms part of the broader “Peace City Dili” project, which aims to create spaces throughout the city that convey messages of peace and allow local residents to encounter the value of peace in their everyday lives.
Four local organizations participated as sponsors and partners: Vinod Patel, Jack’s of Timor-Leste, Arte Moris, and Sene Art Group. The two businesses provided materials needed for mural production and volunteer activities, while the arts organizations contributed their professional expertise and artistic talents.
Arte Moris and Sene Art Group participated in the mural’s creation by volunteering their artistic skills, with Sene Art Group also supplying paintbrushes. Arte Moris had previously stated through local media that conveying messages of peace through art aligns with the group’s core mission.
Both arts organizations used their expertise to visually express the values and principles of peace education.
Local businesses also supported the community peace initiative in their own ways. Vinod Patel donated paint for the mural, while Jack’s of Timor-Leste sponsored caps for participating students and volunteers. Both companies decided to supply materials in strong empathy with the project’s purpose and the community’s participation.
A representative of Vinod Patel explained the company’s motivation for supporting the initiative, saying, “After reviewing the details of the project and learning about HWPL’s previous activities, we decided to contribute to this meaningful initiative.”
The representative also reflected on the transformation of the space, stating, “Previously, the walls were covered with unwanted writing, but now they have been transformed with beautiful colors and paintings, creating an entirely different atmosphere.”
A representative of Jack’s of Timor-Leste stated, “We see ourselves not simply as a retail business, but as part of the local community. We wanted to support this project because it promotes positive values among young people, including peace, creativity, and unity.”
The representative added, “We hope the students will express their creativity while sharing messages of peace, unity, and respect, and that the mural will encourage more local residents to become involved.”
An HWPL representative commented, “This project was made possible through the participation and cooperation of local businesses, arts organizations, and young people.
We hope people will continue to follow our efforts as we work alongside the local community in Timor-Leste to put the value of peace into practice in everyday life.”
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