Vision
To engage world citizens in activities that promote global peace

Mission
To advance peace and understanding amongst all the nations, cultures and religions of the world through the creation of rose gardens that become centers for community activities

TJ David and Sylvia Villalobos, Co-Creators
World Peace Rose Garden, State Capitol Park, Sacramento, California

International World Peace Rose Gardens (IWPRG) is a catalyst in diverse communities around the world for peace. The non-profit organization was incorporated in 1988 for the purpose of creating beautiful rose gardens for peace on public, accessible sites. The gardens serve as places of inspiration and magnets for community activities, including the IWPRG youth programs. The projects have impacted millions around the world.

Planted on some of the most cultural, historic and sacred grounds of the world, five major World Peace Rose Gardens were created to focus on different peace themes:

• The Lake Shrine, Pacific Palisades, CA, USA (1984 & 1997) - The Gandhi World Peace Memorial
  Peace and Harmony between Cultures & Religions
• Mexico City, Mexico (1988) - Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
  Friendship between Mexico and the United States
• Assisi, Italy, Europe (1991) - The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
  Universal Peace with All Creation
• Atlanta, Georgia, USA (1992 & 1996) - The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site
  Peace through Non-Violence
• Sacramento, California, USA (2003) - State Capitol Park
  Peace for Women, Children and Families

International Youth Programs

While the World Peace Rose Gardens are silent ambassadors of peace, it is youth who give voice to that message. Students from Italy, Mexico, Japan* and the United States, have participated in two exciting programs that promote world peace:

• The “World Peace Begins With Me” Art Program
  Students are invited to artistically express the theme of each garden. Selected artwork is exhibited at dedications, public venues and other community events.
• The Inspirational Messages of Peace Contest
  Students express the ideals of the garden or an aspect of peace, in short poetic prose. Selected messages are engraved on individual plaques and placed throughout the gardens to act as points of inspiration.

*Although no formal garden was planted in Japan, youth from Hiroshima have participated in IWPRG art programs after a visit by founders in 1990.

International World Peace Rose Gardens creates gardens that are living reminders that peace begins within the hearts of each one of us… in our thoughts, in our words and in our actions. Each one of us has an opportunity to make the world a better place, daily. Everyone can make a difference!

TJ David and Sylvia Villalobos began cultivating their dream for peace by planting the first World Peace Rose Garden at the Gandhi Peace Memorial in California in 1984. The visionary team combined Mr. David’s love and expertise of roses and his business background with Ms. Villalobos’ passion for social justice, education, love of children and organizational skills. Twenty years later, they have raised over $1,400,000 (including in-kind donations) for five major projects, donated over $340,000 and have volunteered over 20,000 hours.