Hard at work. Chris Thompson has spent months planning the anniversary event
Hidden in a corner office of the Temple of Peace and Health, sits Chris Thompson casually dressed in a beige cardigan and jeans, steadily typing away at his computer, ensuring that every detail of the Peace 75 festival is organised.
The 26-year-old left his home in Reading to study at Bangor University where he graduated with a degree in Psychology. However after briefly working as an assistant psychologist he applied for the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) programme: “It was a fantastic experience and opportunity,” he grins. “We worked in Swansea and then we all went over as a team to Zambia and worked in different projects with different charities over there.
“I think there’s a bit of naiveté around people’s understanding of volunteering; when they go abroad they have this perception that they are going to save the world.”
Chris went on to work in Tamil Nadu, India with Skillshare International, before settling into his role as education and engagement officer at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA) in 2012.
The push for peace
The past few years has seen the rise of numerous large scale campaigns across the UK, the Enough Food (IF) campaign bought together charities from all around the country to push for change in the way the British government addresses global development
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“I feel those types of campaigns are very important actually, for two reasons,” remarks Chris with a noticeable authority to his previously calm voice. “One is to lobby the government who have powers on a global stage to make change happen but the other is to raise awareness amongst the public in the United Kingdom.”
“I definitely think that the richer nations need to be taking the lead in order to set a good example to ensure that other countries follow and make it harder for large companies to avoid paying their taxes.”
Peace 75
The anniversary of the Temple’s opening in 1938 will run from 29 November to 1 December.
Chris smiles, his eyes crinkling as he does so: “It’s a beacon of global citizenship within Wales we want to shout about it, and emphasise all the good things that have been happening here in those 75 years.”
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Surprise visitors
Alongside helping to develop international relations, working at the Temple of Peace and Health has some extra perks. In October 2012 Chris was lucky enough to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was visiting the Wales for Africa programme.
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“It was a really good day,” remembers Chris, “a local primary school came in to greet the Archbishop and they had South African flags and Welsh flags that they were running down the steps. He’s got a beaming smile and the moment that he walks into a room everyone just feels his warmth.”
The temple has also served as a backdrop to a number of BBC programmes: “One time they turned it into a Nazi hall and poor Sue who works out in the hall came in to discover our beautiful lovely temple had been transformed into a Nazi arena,” laughs Chris. “I think she had a heart attack. “
