Asian Youths Commit to Be Peacebuilders

Last Updated (Friday, 30 June 2023 14:21)

14 young people from nine countries of Asia participate in the second School of Peace (SoP) in Bali, Indonesia. The School of Peace runs from May 15, 2023, to July 13, 2023. These youths come from Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. The Interfaith Cooperation Forum(ICF), a project of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs organizes the School of Peace, the first one being held in Nepal from February to March, 2023. The participants come from different religious backgrounds, namely Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity. Some do not belong to any religion.

The main objective of the SOP is to prepare the youth to be change agents and peacebuilders in their communities. This program runs for 60 days in three different venues: 1) Puri Saron Madangan, 2) 5-Day Community Immersion in Blimbingsari Village and 2) Dyanapura City Hotel in Badung, Bali.

In this program, participants learn, among other things, about the tools of conflict analysis, peace, principles of negotiation, mediation and conciliation, understanding trauma, different religions, people’s impact on mother earth, nonviolent communication, journalism, mental health, and LGBTQI+ struggles.

“I’ve been fed a whole lot of new knowledge for the past 5 weeks in the SoP. This would truly help me become a better student-leader advocating for peace when I go back to my country,” Jaci, a participant from the Philippines shared. 

After completion of the program, the participants will go back to contribute to their respective organizations and countries in creating sustainable peace and inspire social change.

↑ SoP Participants in Bali Commemorating #ThursdaysinBlack.

By Santoshi Wagle,
SoP Participant from Nepal