Peace Child - Friedenslichtkind Twelve-year-old Pillar Jarayseh lit the ORF peace light in the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, before passing it to Ten-year-old Michael Putz, the 2023 "Peace Child" to be flown back to Austria. "Peace Child" "The Peace Child" or "Friedenslichkind" - Each year, a child from Upper Austria is picked to travel to the Holy Land to collect the Peace Light from the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem. The Peace Light is then flown back to Vienna for distribution at a Service of Dedication attended by Scout and Guide delegations from across Europe. From there the Scouts and Guides from across Europe collect the Light, with it's message of Peace and take it back to their own countries and communities passing on the Light on to others along the way. In addition the Light is flown America and Canada for distrubtion across those countries.After the Peace Light had been kindled by twelve-year-old Pillar Jarayseh who comes from Bethlehem, due to the fighting in theMiddle East, it was taken to Amman airport, where it was handed over to the Peace Child to begin its flight back to Austria as currently there is only limited air traffic allowed in and out of Tel Aviv. Michael Putz, this years Peace Child, comes from Steyr, located south of Linz. Michael, a 10-year-old student from Steyr was selected because of his involvement with the Scouts, working with the Youth Fire Brigade and his commitment to his Church. He says "I have known of the Peace Light from a young age and feels it belongs to with our family over the Christmas period".

The Peace Children - Friedenslichtkind

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2023 - Michael Putz

2022 - Sarah Noska

2021 - Tobias Nussbaumer (see note below)

2020 - See Note Below

2019 - Victoria Kampenhuber

2018 - Niklas Lehner

2017 - Tobias Flachner

2016 - Melanie Walterer

2015 - Niklas Dumhart

2014 - Tizian Ronacher

2013 - Michael Wiexbaumer

2012 - Christina Mader

2011 - Sarah Schinwald

2010 - Stefan Ivatovic

2009 - Simon Binder

2008 - Marlene Irndorfer

2007 - Elisabeth Nemee

2006 - Judith Pitzer

2005 - Jurgen Lenguer

2004 - Elke Wiesmair

2003 - Birget Gotte

2002 - Nadeen Kamar

2001 - Ronni and Tali Epstein

2000 - Benjamin Forstinger

1999 - Patrick Mangelberger

1998 - Hanna Steinmair

1997 - Simon Infanger

1996 - Judith Baumgartner

1995 - Elizabeth Pichlmann

1994 - Ernst Piesl

1993 - Stefan Brenner

1992 - Sabine Jungwirth

1991 - Jochen Kriel

1990 - Silva Sylvester

1989 - Sabine Hainzl

1988 - Chy Meng Ing

1987 - Wolfgang Dobias

1986 - Marcus Fodinger

"The Peace Child" or "Friedenslichkind" 2021. Due to the Covid restrictions across the world, the Peace Light was collected by nine year old Rianna Danho who comes from Bethlehem. Once collected, the Light was then transported back to Austria by Austrian Airlines redy for the Dedication Service in Salzburg .

"The Peace Child" or "Friedenslichkind" 2020. Due to the Covid restrictions across the world, a Peace Child was not selected for 2020, however the Peace Light was collected by nine year old Maria Khoury. Maria comes from a Christian family in Bethlehem, volunteered to take the task with great joy, saying she was very proud to be part of the International Christmas tradition.

Original Web Page Compiled by "G@Z" 9/2001

Last Updated 20-11-2023