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Youth Federation for World Peace - Words to inspire peace
Youth Federation for World Peace - Words to inspire peace
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Educating Young Leaders in India
Related to country: India


(from combined UPF reports- visit www.Youthfederation.org for more information)

Delhi, India - Character education is gaining momentum in India as young people increasingly realize that personal integrity is as important for future success as conventional academic achievement.

On a recent trip to Asia from YFWP headquarters in Washington, DC, YFWP Vice President Yeqing Victor Li was a featured speaker at several events at schools and universities near the nation's capital, organized by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and YFWP-India. Li encouraged students to excel in their fields of study, but urged them to work together beyond boundaries of caste or religion. "As Young Ambassadors for Peace," Li said, "if you truly take ownership of the vision of one family under God you can travel anywhere and always be at home. You can contribute to a future of peace not only in India but throughout the world."

St. Stephens, the most prestigious college of Delhi University, hosted a training on August 21. The college has an active social service league, and 100 of the college's 1,200 students have been named Young Ambassadors for Peace. The principal, Dr. Valson Thampu, envisions the college as a "peace laboratory" and has made plans for more Youth Leadership Training programs throughout the year.

Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal K.V. Rajan, the president of the Association of Indian Diplomats and former secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, and Mrs. Geetha Rajan arranged a one-day training on August 24 at the International Institute for Learning in Management Business School. Approximately 100 students attended the program, and a one-day follow-up training is planned.

Later in the month, Young Ambassador for Peace leadership training was also offered to students at several Kendriya Vidyalayas, a network of special schools for children of government officials and military officers. Harcourt Butler, NP, and Sarojini Nagar schools also hosted programs. The trainings, which include videos, discussions, and activities from UPF's Discovering the Real Me character education curriculum, are widely appreciated by teachers, principals, and students.

Government ministers showed interest in expanding this training to other parts of the country in preparation for the Global Peace Festival planned for 2010. India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports national program, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangatan, is the largest government youth body in the world, and YFWP-India has been invited to join its National Integration Camp and conduct young leadership training in various states of India.

There is also interest in integrating YFWP's Young Ambassador for Peace program into the programs of the National Service Scheme, India's largest student-led movement with links to the community.


The Youth Federation for World Peace is a global alliance of young leaders and youth-related organizations dedicated to building a world of peace in which everyone can live in freedom, harmony, cooperation and co-prosperity. For more information on YFWP-UPF education and leadership programs in India contact UPF-India at upfindia@gmail.com

November 16, 2009 | 9:07 AM Comments  0 comments

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Sports for Peace Down Under
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Athletic competition has brought rivals together in peace since Spartans and Athenians met to test their skills in ancient Olympia. With its emphasis on fair play, team work, self discipline, and respect for the skill and athleticism of competitors, sports provides a natural bridge between cultures, religions, ethnic groups, and nations.

The summer 2009 Interfaith Sports for Peace Carnival in Perth, Australia, welcomed groups from diverse cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds for a day of games, sports, and cultural celebrations. The carnival was organized by John XXIII College, the Muslim Social Sports Association, the Youth Federation for World Peace, the Peace Dream Foundation, and the Youth Adult Division of Buddha's Light International Association. In addition to rugby, basketball, volleyball, and soccer competitions, children sang and danced, and performances such as the Kompang, Bangra dance, and Filipino bamboo dance showcased Australia’s diverse cultural traditions. Sports for Peace was originally founded by the Peace Dream Foundation, and in Melbourne it is held in November.

Carnival participants were also encouraged to make posters about peace, enabling people from different backgrounds to freely relate to one another, while exploring the meaning of peace and tolerance. “Through the poster we got to learn about other faiths, said Rachel Howard; “although I am not personally religious, I thought it was a good exercise.”

“Having the kids do posters as a team helped to keep the group focused on building friendship,” said Diana Phang, a teacher from Australian Islamic College.

“They learn about one another's religion and understanding of the different faiths by playing together and living peacefully,” agreed a chaplain at Prebysterian Ladies College, Reverend Elke. “For me, it is enlightening to break an old mental perception when I see Muslim girls in scarfs kicking the ball at a soccer match! I hope a program will be done as a follow-up so that these students who are now friends can continue to develop their relationships.”

While the carnival was a fun and enriching experience for children, teachers and volunteers also benefited from the emphasis on peace building. “The vision of John XXIII was to live in harmony and accept one another, and the college has always been promoting this,” said Mr. Mark Antulov, the deputy principal of John XXIII College, “but this event made it a reality—did you see how that blond girl picked up that Muslim girl and gave her a hug when she fell? That’s beautiful to see.”

Robert Dale, a teacher with the Australian Islamic College, agreed. “As teachers, this event give us opportunity to see how our kids interact with other kids outside their own school. The success of this event is based on how the kids show compassion for each other.”

For some young people, making friends and playing sports was just part of the experience. Fourteen-year-old Najat Kamsani from Australian Islamic College said, “Its more fun than last year….we have good team leaders from John XXIII College who made us feel at home immediately. I noticed that this year team leaders are better prepared, more able and have good leadership qualities.”

“We don’t care whether we win or loose," her friend Nisa Mohamed added, “it’s the fun and friendship that matters.”

Participating schools included Australian Islamic College, Presbyterian Ladies College, Seton College, Kent Ridge High School, and Carrinyup High School. In 2010 similar events will be organized by three schools in Perth.

Fazida Razak
Youth Federation for World Peace
Join a Federation of Young Leaders by becoming an Ambassador for Peace: http://tinyurl.com/youthfed21

September 8, 2009 | 5:49 PM Comments  0 comments



Weekly Thoughts: What Makes a Good Young Leader?
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

My senior year of college is about to start, and it seems that it’s finally my time to take the reigns at the university and lead the different groups I’ve been involved in for the past three years. Don’t get me wrong, I am ready and willing to assume my role, but I have recently been thinking about what it really takes to be a good leader. Foolishly, I went to the Internet for answers. My search turned up an endless stream of advice from everyone—George Patton to Groucho Marx. GoodSearch can be plenty helpful, but one thing a search engine cannot tell you is how to lead. I’ve found that that question can only be answered by yourself.

Fortunately, I stopped looking to others for answers, and I thought about my own requirements for leadership. I came up with three “pillars” of leadership. Of course, each person finds his or her own path to leadership, but I find that every person that I have ever respected has had the following attributes:

Passion: Above all else, a leader needs to truly believe in his or her mission. Passion breeds commitment, and commitment breeds determination. If a leader has passion, that fervor is transferred to followers and creates an unbreakable resolve. At times, this means being a cheerleader for a cause that no one else notices. It means motivating your team, and pulling them through any adversity.

Openness: I have been in many organizations, committees, and groups where things start to go awry when the leadership refuses to listen to every opinion. Being open to all ideas ensures that every voice receives equal consideration. Openness also involves compromise. Once you hear every opinion, you have to be willing to make concessions.

Organization: Most people may not put this one in a top list of leadership skills, but I find it to be one of the most important. I value someone who can run a meeting smoothly, plan an event seamlessly, and manage any group with deference. I also find that the most organized leaders often better anticipate problems and handle them most effectively.

There are certainly thousands, if not millions, of other attributes that describe good leaders, but I find that Passion, Openness, and Organize encompass what I would like to be. I believe that every young leader, especially Youth Ambassador’s for Peace, should aspire to exhibit these qualities. A successful young leader that evokes passion, openness, and organization will inspire any group and undoubtedly be a leader for many years to come.

Trent, Youth Fed. Intern
Social Media Team
Youth Federation for World Peace
Join a Federation of Young Leaders by becoming an Ambassador for Peace: http://tinyurl.com/youthfed21

August 27, 2009 | 6:27 PM Comments  0 comments



YFWP Brings Interfaith Delegation to Sixth UN Youth Assembly
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Young leaders from around the globe spent three days focusing on some of the world’s most demanding problems ranging from world hunger to protecting the environment. Some 700 people from 50 different countries took part in the Sixth Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations in New York on August 5-7, 2009.
The annual assembly showcases programs that address global and local issues, offering opportunities for students and professionals ages 18 to 26 to network with people from many nations and be empowered to take leadership roles in their communities. “I think it’s our responsibility to empower young people and to show young people that change can happen because of their efforts,” said Elaine Valdov, the assembly’s secretary general.

"So many people come together from different countries, and different backgrounds, different religions and different races,” observed Yu Wanzhen, a representative of Tzu Chi, an international charity founded on Buddhist principles. “It’s a really good experience to meet so many people doing the same things that we do."

The Youth Federation for World Peace (YFWP) has been an active participant in past years, and this year's delegation included young leaders from Kenya, Niger, Sweden, and the United States. The Kenyan delegation was partially sponsored by UNESCO and officially represented the nation with endorsement from the Kenya Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Prime Minister’s office. All delegates received diplomatic visas from the US Embassy.

In addition, YFWP organized an interfaith breakout session on the theme of “Interreligious Modalities in the Accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals.” The keynote speaker, Dr. Arun Gandhi, expressed hope that this generation will learn from his grandfather Mahatma Gandhi’s living example of non-violence. "I am hoping to plant some seeds," he said. "Then, the responsibility will be theirs whether to nurture those seeds or let them go to waste."

The 70 Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and other faiths at the session discussed ways to raise awareness and develop interfaith cooperation and collaboration. They talked about approaches to overcome the prejudice and differences that make people hesitant to work together.

The session was coordinated by Justin Fong, Executive Director of the Youth Federation for World Peace USA, with the advice of Rev. Zoe Chang, President of the UN Women’s Guild.

The Universal Peace Federation hosted 40 delegates at its office UN Relations. Director of the UN and International Affairs, Mr. Taj Hamad, described UPF’s vision for renewing the United Nations by assisting the UN Missions in promoting the introduction of an interreligious council at the United Nations.

The conference, which focused on the eight UN Millennium Development Goals, was endorsed by the Permanent Missions of Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Liechtenstein. The UN Department of Public Information and the UN Programme on Youth were full partners. The program was created and directed by the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, Inc., and the International Institute for a Culture of Peace.

August 14, 2009 | 12:34 PM Comments  0 comments

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Weekly Thoughts: Stories from Muslim Youth
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

“Only the youth can spread knowledge and truth about Muslims in this generation.” –Musa, a fifteen-year-old student from the Bronx

I recently finished a the book This is Where I need to Be: Oral Histories of Muslim Youth in NYC, which recounts the stories of growing up in New York City from the perspective of 23 Muslim teenagers. I originally picked the book off of the library shelf because it helped a research project I was conducting. Soon enough though, it became more than just another citation in a bibliography. This book opens up the lives of these students, revealing what is most important to them and what has and will shape their lives.

I have read over many other oral histories and talked with many Muslim-American students, but I was particularly struck by the poignant way in which this book cuts to the heart of these students’ lives. Instead of repeating typical themes such as moving to America and overcoming culture shock, the testimonials demonstrate ideas like institutional racism and stereotyping in everyday settings. The stories are like snapshots of the youths—they expose what the students think at feel at that moment.

What I liked most about this approach was how relatable the stories became. One young woman tells about her struggles with her religion and her ex-boyfriend. A young man recounts the journey of faith that he underwent after his father passed away. Another tells of his dreams of becoming an international journalist. These examples, fortunately, do not strike the normal cliché of “I’m just like everyone else” or a theme focusing on the students’ religion. Instead, each account strikes a balance between similarities with American youth and the unique circumstances of each participant. Thanks to this balance, I felt connected to the storyteller and was better able to step into their shoes if only for a moment.

Through true accounts like these, we begin to understand one another, to find connection in both our similarities and differences. These experiences allow us to reach out to others under the common belief in God, no matter how we express that belief. Thanks to this book, I now have a challenge for myself and everyone else: listen—listen to what youth have say, what they truly care about, and how they view the world.

Trent, Youth Fed. Intern
Social Media Team
Youth Federation for World Peace
http://tinyurl.com/yfedfacebook, www.twitter.com/youthfed

Join a Federation of Young Leaders by becoming an Ambassador for Peace: http://tinyurl.com/youthfed21

July 25, 2009 | 6:35 PM Comments  0 comments



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