Young people from 43 countries gathered in Seoul, South Korea for an international peace programme aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding and youth-led peacebuilding through cultural heritage and lessons from history.
The three-day HWPL International Youth Peace Program held from September 17 to 19 under the theme “We, the Living Legacy of Peace,” brought together participants to explore how historical experiences, cultural diversity and interfaith dialogue can inspire young people to take an active role in building peaceful communities.
Organised by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an organization with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the programme was structured around three stages: Discover, Learn and Act.
During the first phase, participants visited the War Memorial of Korea, where they explored exhibitions and monuments documenting the Korean War and the division of North and South Korea.
The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on the consequences of conflict, including the loss of lives, separation of families and sacrifices made by younger generations.
Participants visited the Korean War Room, the United Nations Room, the UN Monument and the Statue of Brothers, with organizers challenging them to consider what peace means to them and how they can contribute to protecting it.
Chairwoman of the National Youth Council of Fiji Laisani Sepo said the visit demonstrated the courage and determination of young people caught up in conflict, noting that building peace also requires resilience in the face of challenges and criticism.
“The young ones were trying to protect their areas and willing to give up their lives even though they saw the risk, the death in front of them,” she said.
She added, “It takes strong willpower to keep moving forward despite the challenges and criticism we may face in building peace.”
The programme also took participants to Insadong, a cultural district in Seoul, where they experienced traditional Korean culture and explored how learning about unfamiliar traditions can promote respect and encourage meaningful exchanges among people from different backgrounds.
Alwand Talaat Jawhar Caluri, programme director of Iraq’s Public Aid Organization, said creating safe and inclusive spaces for young people from different religious and cultural backgrounds was essential to strengthening dialogue and cooperation.
He said international youth gatherings could provide platforms for participants to share experiences, exchange best practices and learn from approaches used to address peacebuilding challenges in their respective communities.
At Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung Palace, participants explored five values associated with peace: inheritance, respect, responsibility, change and harmony.
Through lessons drawn from the legacy of King Sejong the Great, the Hall of Worthies and the creation of Hangeul, Korea’s writing system, participants examined how leadership, education and informed decision-making can shape society and influence future generations.
Each participant selected one of the five values they intended to practice and documented specific actions they would undertake upon returning home.
Andrew Junior Mwima, chief executive officer of the Mental Health and Anti-Drug Abuse Organization, said young people should be recognised as active contributors to peacebuilding rather than leaders of tomorrow.
“Young people are the ones sent to war. It means the young people can be the ones leading peace initiatives on the front lines,” he said.
“Youths are not the future leaders. We are the leaders of today,” he added.
The second phase, held on September 18, focused on learning and strengthening young people’s capacity to promote a culture of peace.
A roundtable discussion themed “The Role of Youth in Spreading a Culture of Peace” examined ways to prevent religious beliefs and ethnic identities from being exploited to justify violence and conflict.
The discussions drew on Articles 8, 9 and 10 of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), which address principles relating to conflict prevention, peaceful resolution of disputes and the promotion of peace among religious and ethnic communities.
Participants also attended the International Religious Peace Academy for Youth Leaders, where they examined the scriptures and teachings of Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism to deepen their understanding of different religious traditions.
The programme concluded on September 19 with the action phase, during which participants shared experiences from the Youth Engagement and Peacebuilding Working Group (YEPW), a platform through which young people plan and implement peace activities in their communities.
They discussed strategies for implementing regional projects, strengthened their individual responsibilities and developed action plans for 2027 aimed at translating lessons from the Seoul programme into practical initiatives.
HWPL Secretary-General Kang Tae-ho said the gathering had enabled young people to experience the importance of peace in a country shaped by the history of war and division.
“Youth from around the world directly encountered the necessity of peace on this land of war and division,” he said.
He added that peace should not be viewed merely as a legacy inherited from previous generations, but as a responsibility that young people must carry forward for future generations.
Kang urged participants to apply the lessons learned in Korea to peace initiatives in their home countries.
Sarah Vermaut, a law student at the Free University of Brussels in Belgium, said young people should not underestimate their ability to influence change, even when they feel their voices may not be heard.
“I am just a student. Why would they listen to me? But if we think like that, we cannot change anything,” she said.
Vermaut said she intended to share the lessons she had gained with her peers and organize activities that would encourage more young people to participate in peacebuilding.
