California Girl Wins Peace Poster Contest
by Kristopher Kempski

“To draw peace, you have to know what it really means,” said Min-Ji Yi, a 13-year-old girl from Los Angeles, California. “You have to think about it.” She should know. After all, she is the grand prize winner of the 2006-07 Lions International Peace Poster Contest with the theme “Celebrate Peace.”

Yi’s colorful Peace Poster features a young girl singing and playing a keyboard and dressed in flags of many nations, symbolizing the unity of all countries. Musical notes with heart-shaped ends float behind her and are carried by flying white doves. A heart-shaped Earth serves as the background.

“Just as the many musical notes unite to make beautiful melodies, countries also can unite, to create even more beautiful harmonies,” said Yi. “This is my hope for humanity.”

Yi was stunned when she got the call saying that she had won. “It felt surreal. I still can’t believe it,” said Yi. “Winning this contest means I can share my vision of peace with the whole world.”

Prior to being chosen by the Tarzana Lions Club to advance to the District 4L-1 competition, Yi worked on her poster for five to six hours each week for three to four months, a time commitment that was no small feat for this star pupil and active adolescent. Yi’s list of activities would make most people’s heads spin. Each Saturday, Yi spends four hours in a gifted visual arts program, three hours at choir practice, two and a half hours at Korean traditional instrument practice and then goes home to do homework. Additionally, she plays tennis, serves as president of her debate club and participates in a church service committee, a local orchestra, a math club and a club for intellectually advanced students.

Yi, who speaks fluent English and Korean, moved with her family to the United States from South Korea six years ago. “I have more opportunities here. In Korea, very few people create art as a hobby. Now I have more freedom to create art,” said Yi.

Having just graduated from eighth grade this past spring, Yi plans to enter a college early entrance program in the fall. She would like to study biology and become a brain or transplant surgeon.

Speaking at the United Nations
As grand prize winner of the contest, Yi received a $2,500 prize and was flown with her parents and her sponsoring Lions club president, Jacquie Buteyn of the Tarzana Lions Club, to New York City for Lions Day at the United Nations.
 
“Behind my joy of being here is the concern that around the world, drugs are still in use, terrorism reigns, and so many are suffering due to war and hunger,” Yi said in her speech at the United Nations. “Korea is one country, but is suffering under the terrible reality of being divided into two. All I can wish for now is that the nuclear issues resolve peacefully, and as quickly as possible. … Until every last hint of suffering is eliminated in this world, I think that our efforts to create world peace should not rest.”

Yi’s Message to Lions
Yi’s poster will be placed in an exhibit with the 23 merit winning posters, which will be displayed at this year’s international convention in Chicago before traveling to museums and locations throughout the United States for one year. After that, her poster will be added to the permanent display at international headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Yi expresses her deepest gratitude to Lions and encourages continued participation in the Peace Poster Contest.

“Keep sponsoring the contest and remind kids about peace,” said Yi. “Let them express what peace means to them.”