Bronx Community Garden Service Project with Peace Road
On August 18, 2021 a Peace Road service project was organized by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP). Over 75 youth and volunteers from IAYSP, UPF, CARP (Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles), GPA (Generation Peace Academy), and local city and church communities from the tri-state area came together to help at the Taqwa Community Farm in the Bronx, NYC. The volunteer activities included picking pears and apples, weeding, clearing areas, and beautifying the farm.
The Taqwa Community Farm is a half-acre farm located in the Bronx, New York and is administered under the Department of Parks. The farm started as an abandoned lot that was used as a dumping site until Abu Talib with local residents got permission to start a garden. After almost three decades the garden is now a flourishing hub of various produce and even livestock. Families or individuals in the community may be allotted a plot of land to grow their own produce and through their “Grow to Give” program produce is donated to the local community.
The Peace Road event culminated with the main event on August 19 in front of the Heinrich Heine Fountain across from the Bronx County Courthouse. Prominent speakers representing local city officials, colleges, nonprofits, law enforcement and cultural groups took the time to share on the values and importance of peace during this gathering.
What is Peace Road?
The Peace Road and the World Peace Road Foundation are global goodwill projects of UPF. The project dates back to 1981, when the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon proposed an international highway that will physically connect all people of the world. The Peace Road initiative promotes two projects in particular: an undersea tunnel between Korea and Japan, and the Bering Strait Project to connect Alaska and Siberia.