All eligible donations will help this project receive a larger portion of this campaign's $750,000 incentive fund
as part of
the
2024 GivingTuesday campaign!
until December 3, 2024, at 23:59:59 EST
This project will empower 10,000 youth to undertake positive change in themselves and in their communities, providing a solution to increasing community conflict and apathy, with youth leading the way to change the world. Our 'Be the Change!' project harnesses the powerful near-peer experience that takes place between university student mentors and young people aged 11-18. Training mentors to deliver interactive workshops and support youth-led social action.
From the long-term impact of COVID-19 to the war in the Middle East to images of toxic masculinity, current issues are increasing community tensions and causing uncertainty, apathy and conflict for youth. Between 30th July and 7th August 2024, 29 anti-immigration demonstrations and riots occurred in the UK. By the 30th of August 1,280 people had been arrested. It was highlighted in multiple court cases that the youth involved, the youngest being 12, were "simply wanting to belong to something".
PeaceJam recognises young people can be a tremendous force for positive change in society. Our 'Be the Change!' programme is aimed at 11-18-year-olds, many of whom have experienced challenging circumstances. This project will train university students to deliver workshops where young people can discuss their concerns in a safe space, learn to overcome challenges and go on to devise and run a social change project of their own choosing.
This cyclical process of recruiting, training, and programme delivery provides ongoing mutual development opportunities for youth participants and university mentors to gain new skills and engage positively in their local communities. There is a track record of violent incidents decreasing in schools and community-based organisations where PeaceJam programmes have been implemented. This demonstrates the long-term impact that providing an alternative to conflict can have on youth.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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