Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?


Tolerance & Solidarity .

From its beginning, CPNN has devoted special attention to youth initiatives and their support (See CPNN bulletins beginning in 2005, as listed at the bottom of this page).

A proposal to provide funding to youth peace initiatives, The Youth for Culture of Peace Report was mentioned in the high-level report of the Alliance of Civilizations that was presented to the United Nations on 13 November 2006, as its first recommendation for its activities in relation to youth. The report was researched and written by two members of the CPNN corporation, Josephina Lofgren McAuley and David Adams when Federico Mayor was the director of the Alliance.

The Global Youth Solidarity Fund formulated by the report is proposed in the form of a Global Youth Alliance:

“A Global Youth Alliance should be established as a mechanism through which youth can contribute to the implementation of all of the recommendations set forth in this report (not just those under the ‘youth’ theme).”

“Supported by a Global Youth Solidarity Fund, this initiative could begin with the convening and mobilization of various youth networks and associations to promote dialogue, alliance and a culture of peace. These organizations have already begun working together to organize meetings that would provide the opportunity for young people of diverse backgrounds to set an agenda for action which they can then present to global leaders to win their support and assistance. In addition, a survey has been conducted a survey has been conducted identifying 468 youth organizations from 125 countries that could be engaged as implementing partners.”

The high-level report of the Alliance of Civilizations is available on the Internet at http://www.unaoc.org/repository/HLG_Report.pdf.

The proposal was accepted and became the basis for the Youth Solidarity Fund which is still functioning as of this writing. The February 2021 newsletter of the UNAOC announces that “The call for applications for the ninth edition of UNAOC’s Youth Solidarity Fund recorded its highest submission rate with 1,508 applications from youth-led organizations representing 76 countries! UNAOC is now in the process of selecting a group of organizations that will have a chance to participate in capacity-building workshops provided by its project partner, Search for Common Ground. This new interactive component is introduced to strengthen the project proposals and widen the support provided to the youth organizations that invested their time and efforts in the application process.”

Many of the following CPNN articles have followed its development over the 15 years from 2006 to 2024.

CPNN articles concerning youth peace initiatives

The Peace Vibe Fest brings youth from 20 communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Youth Summit on Peace and Sustainable Future Wraps Up Successful Week in Montpellier, France

Transforming Youth from Violence to Champions of Peace in Uganda

UNAOC Hosts Capacity-Building Workshop for the 7th edition of its Young Peacebuilders programme in Cáceres, Spain

Dialogue Remains Best Key To End Conflicts In Africa – Obasanjo, Ex-President of Nigeria

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Selects Seven Youth-Led Organizations as Recipients of its Youth Solidarity Fund

Nikolai Firjubin, Founder of UNOY Youth Peace Network

PAYNCOP Gabon Trained Youth and Women in Political Leadership in the City of Oyem

Payncop Participates in the Training of Young Weavers of Peace in Gabon, Cameroon And Chad

Sri Lanka: iDove Hybrid Intl Youth Conference promotes inter-religious coexistence and harmony

Colombia: Government plans to provide 100,000 young peace managers with economic benefits

Policy dialogue: PaynCoP Gabon for youth participation

UN Alliance of Civilizations Application Guidelines: Young Peacebuilders in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) – 6th Edition

Basel Peace Office announces the nine finalists for the 2023 PACEY Youth Award

The Gambia: WANEP stages youth leaders ‘bantaba’ on peace-building

UNAOC Announces Call for Applications for the 2022 Edition of its Fellowship Programme

Youth at the Luanda Biennale – Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace

Exchange between students in France and Mali : An interview

Burkina Faso: Great nights of the communities of Dédougou: Young people sensitized on the culture of peace

Chad: Ouaddai Youth Debate on Culture of Peace and Civic Engagement

Congo and UNESCO to Cultivate Peace in Youth

The arrival of the first peace fellows at the new peace center in Kampala, Uganda, heralds the beginning of a new era for Rotary and the continent

Council of Europe: Youth, peace and security today: successes and challenges

Gabon: Youth for the Culture of Peace

Involving the African Youth in the Biennale of Luanda!

Conference on the culture of peace in young people hosted by HEC-CHAD

UNESCO supports 5 Youth-led Early Warning and Response Mechanisms for peacebuilding within 5 councils in Cameroon

Pan-African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace: General Assembly

Pan-African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations : Applications now open for the Youth Solidarity Fund

Kalemie, DRC: 200 young Twa and Bantu trained as actors of peace

Culture of peace: Oyem, Gabon, to host the cross-border project “young weavers of peace in Central Africa”

France: Youth in Normandy Mobilize for Human Rights and the Freedom Prize

Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire : Young Christian and Muslim leaders take action for peace

Culture of peace: UN calls on Gabon’s youth

Young Liberian Off to Turkey for Global Peace Chain Summit

For colleges in the United States: First Year Connect

United Nations: Nothing less than equality and a seat at the table for youth

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations: Five Youth-Led Organizations Selected as Recipients of the Youth Solidarity Fund for 2019

UNESCO supports young people for reflections on emerging forms of expression in order to consolidate peace, democracy and development in Africa

PAYNCoP Gabon advocates for the participation and support of youth initiatives at the United Nations

UN committee adopts youth resolution on disarmament and non-proliferation

Chad: Women’s Ministry salutes community peace initiatives

Call for applications: Youth Solidarity Fund

Youth and Peacebuilding: Executive Summary

‘Young people care about peace’: UN Youth Envoy delivers key message to Security Council

Youth, Peace, Security Agenda Starting to Make Difference for Young People in Conflict Zones, But Much Work Remains, Advocates Tell Security Council

IPB Youth Network Conference – Transform! Towards a Culture of Peace – Sept 20-22

PAYNCoP Gabon Identifies Youth Organizations on Culture of Peace

2019 SVNP Annual Conference: Youth and Peacebuilding in Africa

“Youth, Peace and Security: Perspectives for Dialogues in Northeast Asia” Regional Workshop

PAYNCoP Gabon learns about the culture of peace

PAYNCoP Gabon Advocates for Youth Involvement in Peace and Security Issues

Europe: Call for participants – International Youth Camp “Dialogue”

PAYNCOP Gabon Presents its Roadmap to the President of the National Assembly

Panafrican Youth Network for the Culture of Peace Gabon : The work begins

United Nations: Young People Discuss Change at CSW62 Youth Dialogue

United Nations: ‘Global clarion call’ for youth to shape efforts to forge peace in the most dangerous combat zones

Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations: “# Commit2Dialogue: Partnerships for Prevention and Sustaining Peace”

March For Our Lives wins International Children’s Peace Prize 2018

Sustainable Peace in West Africa: International Youth Conference Opens on November 15

Mauritania: Creation of the Youth Movement for Employment

Adopting Resolution 2419 (2018), Security Council Calls for Increasing Role of Youth in Negotiating, Implementing Peace Agreements

Young people: actors for peace and national reconciliation in Mali

Youth Dialogue at CSW62 presents policy recommendations for inclusion of young women and girls living in rural areas

Youth Solidarity Fund 2017 Edition: Project Outcomes and Capacity Building Workshop

Government of Italy and UNICEF join efforts to promote positive peace for Libyan youth

Caritas Jordan hosts Youth World Peace Forum

Dominican Republic: Mayor praises successful congress for peace in Southern region

The Gambia: African youth calls for intergenerational bridges

Gambia: La jeunesse africaine appelle à la construction de ponts intergénérationnels

Côte d’Ivoire: Preservation of the peace in Port-Bouët: Communal youth give their recipes

Côte d’Ivoire: Préservation de la paix à Port-Bouët : La jeunesse communale donne ses recettes

Mexico: Colima will host the Meeting of Youth Peace Leaders

2015-16 Recipients of UN Youth Solidarity Fund, Africa and Middle-East

Innovative program for leadership, ethics and culture of peace helps to transform young Brazilians

Costello students take part in UK Peace Jam

Call for Proposals: Grant for Innovation in Conflict Transformation 2013

Call for projects by United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

Dialogue of Civilizations: ‘It’s time for action,’ say the Youth

Dialogue des civilisations : le temps de passer à l’action, selon les jeunes

International Youth Meeting for the Culture of Peace

Rencontre Internationale de Jeune pour la Culture de Paix

Important Peace Iniatives of Alliance of Civilizations

International Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

In the City of Santos, Young People from Nine Countries Talk about Peace

Advocating for UPEACE at the UN

Youth for Culture of Peace Report 2006

CPNN bulletins concerning youth peace initiatives

A Global Youth Movement?

Youth Take the Lead for the International Day of Peace, October 2017

Youth training in Budapest, November 2012

Youth Team at Santiago de Compostela, January 2011

Youth Team for Final Decade Report on Culture of Peace Decade, January 2010

Second edition of Youth Solidarity Fund, July 2009

First awards of Youth Solidarity Fund, July 2008

Application process for Youth Solidarity Fund, April 2008

Establishment of Global Youth Solidarity Fund, January 2008

Youth Teams in Arab Region, February 2007

Youth Advocacy Team, November 2006

Completion of youth organization survey, September 2006

Launch of survey of youth organizations, July 2006

Continuing work of the Youth Advocacy Team, February 2006

UN General Assembly debate recognizes Youth Advocacy Team, October 2005