Peace Workshop – “Voices of Youth for Peace and Dialogue”

Peace Workshop – “Voices of Youth for Peace and Dialogue”

Peace Workshop – "Voices of Youth for Peace and Dialogue" was held on 1st July 2025 at YMCA Lahore, Pakistan. This youth-led initiative created a powerful platform to reflect on the value of peace, understanding, and dialogue. Organized under the visionary leadership of Madam Ghazala Sarfraz, General Secretary of YMCA Lahore. The workshop embodied YMCA’s mission of building harmony and empowering youth to become peace ambassadors in their communities.

The workshop aimed to raise awareness about the concept and types of peace, promote interfaith dialogue and tolerance among youth, provide a safe space for self-expression, and encourage young participants to take personal and social responsibility in building peaceful environments.

The workshop welcomed around 25 participants, with youth from both Christian and Muslim communities taking part in a shared learning space. The program was organized and led by YMCA interns who played active roles in every segment of the workshop.

Opening Remarks: by Nasrullah, who shared the valuable insights “What is Peace, and its relevance in our daily lives”.

Panel Discussion: Featuring one Christian and one Muslim speaker who shared diverse perspectives on peace. The session was moderated by Kisa Batool, creating a respectful space for interfaith understanding.

Concluding Activity: Led by Mariam, participants wrote personal peace commitments on sticky notes and placed them on the "Commitment Wall".

Interactive Engagement: Youth shared how they could contribute to peace in daily life through short discussions and reflection circles.

The workshop resulted in open interfaith conversations, personal peace commitments, and strengthened feelings of understanding and unity among participants. It fostered mutual learning, confidence in expression, and helped youth reflect on their individual capacity to influence peace in families, schools, and communities.

• Youth recognized that peace starts from within and grows through dialogue and empathy.
• Many participants expressed that they had never attended such an open interfaith space before and found it deeply meaningful.
• The importance of small actions — such as kindness, listening, and cooperation — in promoting peace was a major takeaway.

Feedback and Quotes from Participants

“This workshop taught me that peace isn't just about avoiding conflict but about actively listening and respecting others’ beliefs.” — Participant

“I feel inspired to initiate peace conversations in my university group.” — YMCA Intern

“We need more spaces like this where our youth can grow with understanding and unity.” — Speaker from Christian community

Thanks to YMCA Lahore and the dedicated leadership of Madam Ghazala Sarfraz, the “Voices of Youth for Peace and Dialogue” workshop successfully planted the seeds of empathy, unity, and responsibility among the youth. This initiative serves as a shining example of how faith-based organizations can play a transformative role in promoting peace – one young heart at a time.

“Peace begins with a smile, a word, a conversation – and most powerfully, with a decision”.

By: Sania Ashiq

Assistant Secretary

YMCA