International Peace Day was marked on Sunday in one of the most violent areas in the Western Cape - gang-infested Lavender Hill, near Muizenberg, Cape Town.
An interfaith prayer service was held on a vacant lot close to where a number of children have been killed in the crossfire of gang violence.
Refugees from Bonne Esperance Refugee Centre in Philippi also attended.
Initiated by the United Nations, World Peace Day is a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.
Says the UN: "(We) invite all people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the day."
Cape Town Interfaith organisation chairman John Oliver told the gathering of about 200, most children, that the day of prayer had been like a "mexican wave" throughout the world.
"We have had people praying for us and now we need to pray for them," he said.
But peace does not come cheaply. It is something we need to work at.
"Peace can also be made with a peaceful word or thought.
"All battlefields should be turned into peace parks, even the battlefields within ourselves."
Deputy Defence Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge said: "We won the struggle against apartheid because we dared to dream and believe that an apartheid-free South Africa was possible."
She pointed out that 3 000 South African troops were peace-keeping in Africa.
"Let us make sure children are encouraged to participate in their communities to ensure peace. Inch by inch, peace will be restored to violent communities. We should work together to make sure it happens."