The Fourth Summer Semester of 2024 Youth Empowerment Peace Class

 

 

From April to June this year, the 4^th term of IPYG’s “Youth Empowerment Peace Class (YEPC)” was conducted in 26 countries over about two months. YEPC is an initiative to provide peace education to youth worldwide, empowering them to practice peace. It is held annually in various regions around the globe.

The 4^th term of YEPC includes a new subject called “The Power of Youth” Education which aims to understand the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) by exploring the nature of conflicts of 21st-century and the background of the birth of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In addition, “Youth Health” Education to learn how to provide first aid in various situations and “Religion and Peace – The Second HWPL International Religious Peace Academy (IRPA), About Birth, Aging, Illness, & Death” Education to promote a culture of respect and understanding were held.

The education was operated in various parts of the world by IPYG’s regional working group, Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Group (YEPW). Particularly, the working group in the Czech Republic and Zambia selected employment and mental health content relevant to local youth as their educational themes. They invited experts in these fields to lead the lessons.

 

 

Participants in the 4^th YEPC term shared the following impressions.

Emmanuel Sakala, Program Coordinator of Zambia National Students’ Union(ZANASU) said, “Thank you very much for educative and informative education. Helped us understand the value of peace, the cause of wars. Trying to promote peace. I want to emphasize that it goes for all young people. And we need to share with each other so that everyone is on the same page, how world war started.”

Also, he explained, “We have responsibility to pass on peace to next generation, so that they can be free from war. In Zambia there has been a lot happening, conflict, sometimes war. Young people getting information make sure that we can be policy makers that we can support DPCW and to submit to UN.”

 

 

Gobardhan Pravishek, Student of University Of Technology Mauritius shared, “It was amazing. I learned many new things today and I am sure that this course will help me in the future. I learned what to do during emergency situations and this can help to save a life. It would be pleasure to share my knowledge others.”

MatlhogonoloTlhomelang, Program officer of Kgorogo Social Investment said, “Religion and Peace Education was thought provoking, meaningful and open. That we all have different believes but consequently we all believe in 1 God. Our supernatural being. Life is a cycle, a wheel that turns regeneration of birth, life and death and ultimately the importance of reconnecting to our spirituality.”

Waqas jan, International Director of Truth Youth Group expressed, “When I joined the YEPC class as a youth group member, I saw how peace was made in different places in the world and also the whole chart which was shown with different videos showing with graphs that In which world war and after how much loss in which country, when peace was established, how are their current conditions? Realized and in this world I believe that establishing peace is very important for our future people and generations and I am grateful to IPYG for giving us the opportunity to be a part of this group. Thank you for learning about peace.”

 

 

YEPC provides tailored education on the values of peace that youth should embrace and practice as global citizens. As a result, it has received widespread support from youth organizations worldwide.

After completing the courses, participants join IPYG’s regional working group, YEPW, to continue discussions and activities to realize peace within their communities. The YEPC supports the working groups to further their peace activities and provides youth with the necessary peace knowledge and motivation to implement it.

IPYG plans to hold an additional winter semester of YEPC 4^th term this coming November and will launch a new 5th program next summer. We ask for your continued interest and support in YEPC’s activity that educates youth to practice the values of peace.