One of the most emotional experiences of my life was recently meeting four Colombian teenagers that are leaders in the Children’s Movement for Peace, an organization nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize two years in a row. This year’s recipients of the Prize will be named in October.

“We want the laughter of children to rise,” says Mayerly Sanchez, 16, member of the Children’s Movement for Peace.

“I have a passion to defend children. I want to see them smiling,” says Sebastian Bedoya, 16, member of the Children’s Movement for Peace.

“I want no more tears of violence, but tears of joy. We want you to work for peace so it won’t just be a Movement of Peace in Colombia, but a movement of peace throughout the world,” says Leonardo Rivera, 13, member of the Children’s Movement for Peace.

“I am so moved because I am surrounded by children with peace in their heart,” says Jonemil Perez, 17, a member of the Children’s Movement for Peace.

Colombia is said to be one of the most violent countries as the drug trade, government and guerrillas battle for power. Thousands and thousands of people have been killed randomly, towns burned to the ground, children displaced. Faced with violence, a group of children made the ultimate choice–to choose to be loving and supportive instead of vindictive. The Children’s Movement for Peace held elections in Colombia in 1996 with over 2.7 million youth voting for peace.

I was so moved when I met these children because I had never experienced anyone, let alone kids, consistently making the choice to be open and peaceful in the face of so much adversity. Mayerly, Sebastian, Leonardo and Jonemil each took turns telling their story of what brought them to the Children’s Movement and what they have seen in their work for peace. I wept openly at the horrors these children have faced–their family members shot in front of them, having to flee in the middle of the night, leaving their home and all their possessions, living in cardboard shacks and having little to eat. When asked what was the most awful thing the soldiers did to the children, Mayerly answered, “They take away our childhoods.”

These youth activists have done their part to bring back peace and the happiness of childhood to the Colombian youth. They are teaching games to get children laughing again. They are holding workshops for displaced children using UNICEF game books to teach more about peace as a choice. They lead creative visualizations to help heal wounds the victims incur. I was touched by the wisdom, direction, vision and passion these teenagers showed.

Mayerly summed it up by saying, “The greatest prize is not the Nobel Peace Prize, but the prize we seek is peace in our schools, colleges, families and hearts.”