We started out quite early today, because we had to drive 20 km back from Oxford to the junction at which we had stopped last night.

Running in to the centre of the city, we saw the colleges of Oxford in all their splendour and some unusual and intriguing plant species before we arrived at SS Mary and John School, our first of three for the day.

Ondrej started off the presentation to the gymn of assembled children with the language game and the song and then I (Bakul) talked a little about harmony and why we take part in this run. I especially enjoy getting the children involved and making it as real and memorable for them as possible. This is made so much easier by the program devised by a few of us a couple of weeks ago. The children get to guess countries, sing and clap along with us,

watch a couple of skits about harmony in our team, shout the motto, try a moment of silence to feel harmony in their hearts, run with the torch and each one gets to hold the torch and make a wish for world harmony. We then tell the children that they are now part of our Harmony Team and that they should try to keep working together to foster these wishes in their own lives and so spread this positivity to their friends, family and the world at large.

This school enjoyed singing along with us and we appreciated the patience of the teachers for letting the children run free with the torch.

The team then moved on to St Barnabas School on the other side of Oxford where one class of twenty children awaited us to run with the torch outside.

After a brief photo shoot, we went inside to talk to the whole school. The feeling inside was magical as we filed into the hall of smiling faces. This school shared with us their ideas for harmony which they had already been discussing in their own recent projects. It was a delight to receive some new ideas from this school along with their wishes.

Our final school visit at 2pm was at Larkside Primary which required another traverse across the city. This was a school at which one of our Oxford coordinators Piyasi Morris worked, so the children were well prepared for us and we were even handed an official program of events! Soon the children were involved in showing us their beautiful artwork on harmony and running before they took us outside to host their fun-run in their playing fields.

There were so many children from many different countries who took a break from their running to take a picture with the torch.

I had a good chance as well, to meet a few of the parents who were cheering on their children. As the run came to an end we headed on our way, though sorry to leave behind such a great community.

Our final destination that evening was a meeting with an interfaith group situated right in the centre of Oxford.

We found out soon enough that this was the executive gathering from about four different countries of a group called the International Association for Religious Freedom. There were representatives from America, Australia, the Philippines and Japan.

We formed a little gathering outside of their building on this slightly chilly Oxford evening and as we explained what we were doing, we saw their faces light up with pleasure and understanding as the goal of their association is very similar in its aspiration of uniting different cultures and their faiths. We were very grateful for the inspiration that these people gave to us!

Distance: 30km

Team Members:
Ondrej Vesely (Czech Republic), Andrea Fidrmuc (Slovakia), Abichal Watkins (Wales), Marc Schrader (Germany), Jirka Albrecht (Czech Republic), Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine), Edi Brodtrager (Austria), Erika Pongracz (Hungary), Angela Muhls (Germany), Zuzana Tobolkova (Czech Republic), Bakul Keaney (Ireland), Sarvoshmi Morris (England), Piyasi Morris (England), Richard Pettinger (England).

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.