Colors for Peace Brings 1,500 Students Together in New Delhi

Children, diplomats, educators and public leaders came together in New Delhi for the international initiative ‘Colors for Peace’. Around 1,500 students from schools across Delhi NCR and elsewhere in India participated in a shared expression of peace through art.

The programme was held on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at Amity International School, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi. The initiative brought together young voices from different societal and educational backgrounds, including children from street schools as well as students from formal school networks.

Colors for Peace is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Italy and involved with children across 135 countries. The campaign aims to bring children’s creativity into the global conversation on peace, coexistence and mutual understanding. As part of the programme, children were invited to express their understanding of peace through drawings.

The event was attended by H.E. Mehdi Jomaa, Former Prime Minister of Tunisia; H.E. Antonio Bartoli, Ambassador of Italy to India; Smt. Arti Mehra, Former Mayor of Delhi; Ms. Arunima Kukreja, Ambassador, Colors for Peace India and Founding Director, CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence; and Mr. Antonio Giannelli, Founder and President, Colors for Peace.

The participation of children from street schools extended the programme beyond formal school networks. It brought together young participants with varied educational and societal backgrounds, giving them a common platform to share their ideas and understanding of peace through art.

Speaking on the occasion, Arunima Kukreja, Ambassador, Colors for Peace India and Founding Director, CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence, said: “Through this initiative, students will have the opportunity to share their values, ethos, perspectives and educational experiences, fostering greater understanding and appreciation of each other’s cultures.

Just as artworks from India are travelling to Italy this year, we look forward to bringing artworks from Italy to India next year, with a larger vision of eventually creating a platform in India that showcases artworks from children and artists across the world. Inspired by the spirit of the Colosseum and the Peace Park in Italy, we envision building a space in India that becomes a symbol of peace, creativity, unity and cultural dialogue”

The Ambassador of Italy to India said: “Peace is nurtured through education, dialogue and inclusion. By giving children a platform to express their hopes and emotions through art, we help build greater empathy and understanding. Initiatives like this keep the memory of the past alive while inspiring a more peaceful and inclusive future.”

Smt. Arti Mehra, Former Mayor of Delhi, said:“Today, what touched me most was seeing how children from modest backgrounds express themselves through colours. Colours have the power to give children a voice, inspire creativity and bring a sense of joy and belonging. Through initiatives like Colours of Peace, we can turn every child’s imagination into a message of hope, sharing and harmony. Every colour they create is a small but meaningful step towards a more peaceful future"

The programme concluded with a visit to the Colors for Peace Art Gallery. The gallery displayed artworks created by the participating children during the initiative.

Selected artworks will travel to Italy for proposed exhibitions in 2027. Participating Indian and Italian schools are also proposed to be virtually twinned. The plan is intended to build a lasting cultural exchange around peace, empathy and coexistence.

Previous Colors for Peace initiatives have been showcased at leading international platforms, including the G7, Expo Milan, Palazzo Vecchio and the Colosseum. These platforms have also been named in connection with the international journey of the initiative and its artworks.

Colors for Peace was founded in Italy in 2015. It invites children from around the world to express their vision of peace through art. The initiative has seen participation from over 135 countries and has been showcased at leading international platforms, including the G7, Expo Milan, Palazzo Vecchio and the Colosseum.

The India programme is supported by the Embassy of Italy in India, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence and Amity Education Group. Through this programme, the global movement has been brought to Indian schools, where students have used drawings and colours to present their understanding of peace.

The programme also reflects the role of the CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence in nurturing and promoting design in India. The Foundation has undertaken and disseminated research on sustainable development in the Himalayas, studies on urban underbellies including flyover infrastructure, innovative approaches to median utilisation in Delhi, and long-term vision planning for cities such as Noida.

Its work focuses on bridging research, design and policy discourse. Named after the renowned architect and founder, Mr. C.P. Kukreja, the Foundation provides a platform for aspiring designers, students and amateurs to unleash their creative potential and contribute to the field of design.

The Foundation’s primary objective is to create a conducive environment for design education, research and innovation. It operates with the belief that design plays a crucial role in shaping the world around us, and therefore, fostering design excellence is essential for sustainable development and societal progress.

Through the Colors for Peace programme, children from schools across Delhi NCR and across India became part of an international art initiative involving young participants from 135 countries. Their artworks formed the central expression of the programme, while the proposed exhibitions in Italy in 2027 and the proposed virtual twinning of Indian and Italian schools are expected to extend the cultural exchange beyond the event.