PeaceJam, an organization founded in 1996 by Ivan Suvanjieef and Dawn Engle, is a global youth organization led by 14 Nobel Peace Recipients committed to supporting a generation of future Nobel Peace Recipients who advocate for peace. The organization connects youths with Nobel Peace Prize winners in an attempt to enlighten the younger generation about the importance of peace. PeaceJam is worldwide, with over 40 countries and 1.3 million youths who have participated. The mission of PeaceJam is to encourage the younger generation to advocate and strive to create changes in their communities and the world.
So how does PeaceJam accomplish this goal?
PeaceJam’s curriculum encourages participants to become compassionate about the world around them by educating them about current pressing issues through a self-learning journey. They hold conferences and events that provide participants with an opportunity to get personally mentored by Nobel Peace Prize winners. Inspirational public figures such as The Dalai Lama, Betty Williams, and Leymah Gbowee, are leaders of the organization and engage in events with youth to encourage them to advocate for peace.
Acts of peace are essential in making a change in communities and the world. PeaceJam’s Billion Acts Campaign is an international movement organized by global citizens that aims to tackle problems around the world. In this campaign, Nobel Peace Prize recipients work together to support youths throughout the world in their journeys to make a difference. Youths have the opportunity to take action towards pressing issues while being supported by inspirational figures of the community. As Betty Williams said, “One act of kindness a day can do it”, which is why participants strive to come together as a community to promote positivity.
On April 23, 2022, the PeaceJam Mid-Atlantic Youth Conference “Compassion in Action,” will be held at Northwood High School in Silver Spring, Maryland from 8am-8pm. It will be hosted by Kailash Satyarthi, who was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Satyarthi is a children’s rights activist who opposed child labor and fought to ensure that children in India have the right to an education. At this conference, Satyarthi will spend the day leading discussions, doing Q&As, explaining his background and mission, presenting a keynote address, leading workshops, and much more. Students will get the opportunity to build new partnerships and learn how to positively and sustainably advocate for change in their own communities, including PeaceJam’s 1 Billion Acts of Peace Campaign. The conference will be very interactive and provides opportunities for many connections to be formed.
To learn more about PeaceJam’s Montgomery County Conference, visit their website and register through the Google Form. Students are also invited to participate in the Peace Festival hosted by PeaceJam at the Mattie JT Stepanek Park in Rockville, MD from 1pm-4pm.
Article by Ashlesha Dhakal of Northwest High School
Photo courtesy of Peace Jam