2019 GLOBAL YOUTH PEACE SUMMIT
The Rwanda Global Youth Peace Summit will unite 55+ youth, 10 volunteers and 10 counselors from around the globe with an emphasis on youth from across Africa. Since 2016 the African Dream Movement along with several partner organizations have brought the Global Youth Peace Summit model to the continent of Africa; hosting it thus far in Kenya, South Africa and soon to be Rwanda under the guidance of Aline Joyce Berabose. The intention of the Summit is to create a safe space for young people from diverse tribes, religions, ethnicity and economic backgrounds to come together for one week and explore their humanity; honoring their differences while recognizing the common threads that unite us all.
The Summit serves as an opportunity to see beyond our nationality, ethnicity, beliefs, past experiences and present circumstances, believing we are all human beings who essentially want the same things: acceptance, love, equality and peace. This fundamental understanding ignites empathy and compassion. The Summit inspires youth to turn this compassion into action by giving them the necessary tools and support to make an impact in their homes, their communities, the world, among their peers, and most importantly within themselves. Global Youth Peace Summit in Rwanda.
The vision for the 4th Global Youth Peace Summit in Rwanda has been a calling of the African Dream Movement through the dream of Aline Joyce Berabose who is the Co-Founder and Program Director. Aline attended her first summit in Austin,TX in 2016 after being invited by the Amala Foundation, which is the founding organization of the Global Youth Peace Summit. During this time she met people from around the world and for the first time in her life was given a space to process all that had happened in her life. She was able to start a journey of healing after growing up in the aftermath of Genocide against the Tutsi and being born a refugee in Congo. From then on she had a dream of bringing the Summit home to help heal the young people of Rwanda from their ancestral wounds that they all carried so deeply; helping to turn the pain of the past into energy that transforms and uplifts the nation. Aline together with her Co-founders Naomi Mwangi from Kenya and Justice Sambo from South Africa are currently under a training program by Institute for Emerging Visionaries (https://www.emergingvisionaries.org/) to help them grow as leadrrs to spread this work of love and peace across the African continent
Rwanda after 25 years post Genocide numbers of trauma have continued to grow; especially among the young generation. Young people of Rwanda now face the inner conflict of healing from our history and making peace with the past and among one another regardless of tribe or background.There is an urgent need for healing in Rwanda; for creating more spaces for young people to be heard so that they may move the nation forward with love, acceptance, empathy and true healing. Bringing the Summit to Rwanda would not only be a chance for Rwandan youth to heal but it would serve as an opportunity for all involved to witness what is possible when given the opportunity to be seen and heard; realizing that sustainable peace must first start by healing our own wounds and recognizing the wounds of others.
The Summit is a place where for many for the first time in their lives can experience the truth of themselves and others regardless of race, religion, tribe or background. For the first time young people have the opportunity to experience the world through the eyes of equality, acceptance and compassion. The Summit is an opportunity for healing, personal growth, connection and real change in the world. The Summit will challenge and inspire youth to honor differences, explore commonalities and create One Village united by the values of love, respect, honesty, community and service. Activities and discussions provide the youth with tools for conflict-resolution, heart-centered communication, compassionate response, and peace-focused leadership. It is through this sharing that the youth create friendships that broaden their global awareness and ignite their innate capacity for compassion. The youth are encouraged to put their compassion into action and rise up in service to those who need it most.
The Global Youth Peace Summit empowers youth: they return to their homes, schools, communities and countries as Leaders For Peace; planting the seeds for global healing and sustainable peace.
Countries to be represented with an emphasis on Rwandan/Burundian youth African Countries: Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kingdom of Eswatini, Others: United States, Israel, Palestine, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, India. Religions Represented: Islam/Muslim, Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, Maasai/ Traditional Religions, Buddhism.
85% of people who attend the summit don't have means to attend the summit. With your contribution, we are able to cover many costs of less privilege youth who need a safe like the summit the most. Together, we will make the 2019 Global Youth Peace Summit possible.
Thank You.
From the African Dream Movement team
