Pacifists from Woodside Park International School flew to New York last week to attend an international conference.

The group of six GCSE students were the only European students to attend the one-day conference held in Manhattan's Natural History Museum on Martin Luther King Day.

The students heard an address from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and ex-Crown Prince of Jordan, Prince Hassan.

Kunal Khanderia, 15, of Farm Road, Edgware, was most inspired by Craig Keilberger, a pacifist who, aged 12, started the Children Can Save The Kids peace movement, which now has 2,000 members.

"It was brilliant," said Kunal. "We heard from a number of speakers from around the world who have all had the opportunity to try to improve the world.

"We heard about real suffering. It has really opened my eyes."

The students stayed with American families and spent the remainder of their three-day visit touring New York and sampling American culture. Now back at school in Friern Barnet Lane, Kunal intends to campaign for peace.

"I am going to contact Amnesty International with some ideas and see how we can help.

"Maybe we can hold a non-uniform day here and try and influence other people to get involved," said Kunal, who plans to study medicine.

January 29, 2003 11:00