BR Volleys create peace messages together with schoolchildren

“Strong messages of peace and interfaith dialogue are essential in these turbulent times. That is what the House of One stands for,” said Kaweh Niroomand, managing director of BR Volleys, at the launch of the new partnership with the House of One Foundation. “We are delighted to be kicking off the new season with this meeting between children and professionals.”

As its first event, the House of One welcomed three professionals from Germany's record-breaking volleyball champions—Nolan Flexen, Kyle Dagostino, and Nehemiah Mote—to the construction site of the future multi-faith house in the heart of Berlin. The three athletes were invited to join students from Judith Kerr Elementary School in immortalizing their personal messages of peace on the construction fence.

Inspiring idea of community

Unlike the children, who had already developed their messages in a workshop with the House of One's education officers, Flexen, Dagostino, and Mote worked out their message together on site. From the volleyball court back to art class. The result was a picture of the earth based on the three men's different ideas (see picture): a strong rope twisted from many individual strands, an illustration based on Psalm 23, and a multicolored DNA strand growing out of the universe.

“It was really fun,” said player Kyle Dagostino. “We enjoyed getting creative and helping to raise awareness of this valuable project. The idea of community behind the House of One is inspiring.”

Tolerance expressed creatively

This day also marked the launch of the school program “House of One – Tolerance Creatively.” Young ideas for peaceful coexistence will be displayed at Berlin's oldest location, Petriplatz. With the support of the House of One education team, students of different age groups will be encouraged to develop and creatively express their thoughts and wishes for respectful, peaceful coexistence. This program will be funded in 2025 by Berlin's Mitte district office. 

“Thanks to the support of the district, our construction fence will become a living exhibition of diversity and tolerance,” said Roland Stolte, director of the House of One Foundation. “It's wonderful how young people – and on this day also together with athletes – are sending a visible message of peace and coexistence.” 

Accompanied by Patricia Böckmann, education officer at the House of One, and artist Andrea Wallgren, the children painted their own personal “places of peace” on the construction fence. With each additional participating school class, the construction site will become a “House of One exhibition site” – a place where art, education, and interfaith dialogue come together.