First Prize - Danil Solovyov - Russia

MAY THERE ALWAYS BE SUNSHINE

My name is Danila. I'm a twelve years old boy. My favourite subject is English.I am a member of an English- speaking club «At the fireplace». Our club was formed six years ago.Our students participate in many international projects. Best of all I like projects on http://www.kidlink.org

They are «Landmark», «I describe myself, you draw me», «Exchange of Christmas cards and presents», «Doves of Peace». We wrote letters for our friends from different countries on doves. We told them about our school life, interests, our native village, weather and nature. Receiving letters from our partners, we learned about their life. Now we have a lot of friends from Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Shri Lanka. We sent a film for our friends http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX7d-A60Nas&feature=youtu.be

I think «Landmark- 2015» is the most challenging project. We did our best and became the winner http://www.kidlink.org/drupal/node/332

Students choose a culturally, historically, or geographically significant Landmark anywhere in the world. Next, we compose nine interesting but challenging clues. These 9 clues are emailed to the Landmark coordinator. Over the next three weeks, three clues per week are posted on the Landmark Clues Pages. Teams are allowed to email ONE yes or no question per week to the other teams. At the end of the three weeks, all guesses are emailed to the Landmark coordinator. Totals of correct guesses and answers to all Landmarks are posted on the project site.

Teams often develop enduring relationships for future classroom-to-classroom interactions with new friends from around the world.

It became a tradition to send and receive Christmas cards and presents. We've got toys from America, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Germany, It's so interesting to see kangaroo, deer, bald eagle, kiwi in our classroom.

Now we've earned two badges for active participation in the international project

«I describe myself, you draw me». Our partners this year are students from Slovenia.

http://www.kidlink.org/kidspace/start.php?HoldNode=33166

It's so exciting to draw portraits according to the descriptions. We send emails and communicate in Skype. Skype allows us to communicate face-to-face with people from other countries, We've made a lot of friends all over the world.

Also we celebrate International Day of Peace on 21 September. It is always such a beautiful and amazing day that symbolizes peace around the world!

I believe, it is so important for students to have a deeper global awareness and understanding of other cultures. We all have a right to peace. We, children, should rid our world of wars and promote peace. We should help make our world a more peaceful place. With peace come joy and happiness and many other positive emotions. I think our international projects teach us to value human life, understand and respect other nations, traditions and customs. Maybe that would stop the wars and help people to live in peace.

WE ARE FOR PEACE.

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER PETER GORNAKOV

I'm looking at the photo. It's my great-grandfather and me. He is not with us now but I remember him very well. His name was Peter Gornakov, a soldier of the Soviet Army. He was an ordinary soldier, one of the millions who defended our Motherland. My great-grandfather didn't like when I asked him about the war. He explained to me that it was his duty to fight for peace against the fascism. But we, his relatives remember one of his stories.

All his life my great-grandfather thanked an unknown old woman from a Russian village who gave him a cross. We don't know why she gave him a cross, why she chose him among a lot of other soldiers. May be she was sorry to see a young village man, thin and small. That woman hung him a cross on his neck and saved his life. He participated in many horrible battles and stayed alive. My great-grandfather returned home with some medals and an order. My granny told me that it was difficult not only on the front but also in the villages. Women and children worked from early morning till late at night. They suffered from hunger and hard work. They ate grass and even frozen potatoes.

Now I understand any war is great evil. I want children all over the world to see the sun and the blue sky. I want them to be happy with their dear mummies.

 Third Prize - Helen Senchenko - Russia

 What is peace?

I think,  peace is when there is no war, life in prosperity and harmony.

I smiled to the world in which there is friendship, kindness, loyalty and love, because there is nothing more beautiful than love. It makes your eyes sparkle.

 It inspires you to have a success.

This year our country celebrates the 70 - th  anniversary of living  under a peaceful sky.

 Peace is necessary not only for adults but also for children. They want to grow, develop, create, live in harmony and friendship. 

And as the song says:

Let it always be the sunshine,

Let it always be a blue sky,

Let it always be the mother,

Let it always be Me!