Towards a more peaceful society through cooperation, peer learning, and courage

November 19, 2025
Emma Lahtinen

In October, the YMCA Peacemakers exchange gathered young people from across Africa and Europe to discuss the themes of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda and their own experiences as peacebuilders. Organised as part of the YMCA’s development co-operation programme, the trip aimed to promote youth empowerment and the Ethiopian national YPS action programme process, as well as to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the resolution.

A week filled with themes of youth, peace, and security

A total of 26 young people from Ethiopia, Cameroon, Kenya, Senegal, Sudan, South Sudan, Norway, and Finland gathered in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, at an altitude of 2,355 metres. For many, the most inspiring speaker of the week was Saji Prelis, one of the authors of the UN Security Council’s Youth, Peace and Security resolution and one of its longest-standing advocates.

Prelis’ belief in the resolution, national action plans, and young people’s capacity to positively influence social issues is appreciated at a time when young people are being marginalised from decision-making and seen as a threat to society. Similarly, young people often feel they lack genuine opportunities to influence politics or the future of their countries. In Ethiopia, too, young people feel particularly restricted. Decision-makers do not recognise their potential, and there is also a multi-layered mistrust between young people and the government.

Difficult questions and challenging ways of thinking

Although many young people feel powerless, Saji Prelis stresses that the situation is not hopeless. He builds confidence in young people by reassuring them that even small changes and successes are steps towards a better tomorrow. When everyone takes small but courageous steps towards change, the effect is amplified, and social change becomes achievable.

During the week, through group discussions, exchanges of ideas, and joint planning, the participants explored the many different definitions of peace, what constitutes security or insecurity, and how they build peace in their societies from various perspectives.

Although conditions for peacebuilding differ, Prelis encourages young people to ask challenging questions about structures and ways of thinking, no matter the situation. It is also crucial to pay attention to the language used in daily life and advocacy work. According to Prelis, success lies in clear storytelling and how and to what kind of audience young people communicate about themselves and their interests in different contexts.

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Thought-provoking learning experiences and networking

The young people succeeded in touching their listeners and shaking up their mindsets with their personal experiences. It was shocking to hear how some of the young people had been forced to flee wars and lose their homes and family members to conflict. On the other hand, the progress of the Kenyan YPS process and the research showing that every dollar invested in youth participation yields up to ten times that amount in societal benefits gave cause for hope.

The week culminated on Friday, October 17, with a youth-led networking event that provided an opportunity to share national experiences and give Ethiopian youth a voice. Local young people had a rare opportunity to discuss Ethiopia’s YPS process and its pain points with members of parliament, ministries, and representatives of civil society organisations at an event that brought generations together.

The exchange inspired and encouraged Ethiopian youth in particular to believe in themselves and have greater faith in the potential for social change. Because of this experience, many young people enhanced their skills and built networks they can depend on as national developments advance and advocacy work persists.