Peace School for 1000 Ukrainian youth

6th Congress of Junior Ambassadors for Peace On September 19, 2019 the 6th Congress of Junior Ambassadors for Peace was held. The event took place at the National museum of Ukraine in World War II and was dedicated to the International Day of Peace. It had the slogan "Fighting climate change for peace!".

The Congress was attended by about 500 participants including representatives of the International Civil Movement "Children - Ambassadors for Peace", students from 25 Kyiv schools, educators, teachers, parents.

In the beginning UN Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated all participants in the video message. After that welcoming remarks were delivered by Chairman of the Board of the Universal Peace Federation in Ukraine Mykhailo Ilyin; Director of School #85, Ambassador for Peace Tatiana Fedunova; World Bank expert, Gary Reusche; the Junior Ambassadors for Peace from South Korea Jonghwa Khan.

The main part of the Congress was the awarding ceremony of 36 activists of school communities with the honorary title of «Junior Ambassador for Peace».

In conclusion, the participants signed the Resolution of the VI Congress, outlining the main activities of the Junior Ambassadors for Peace in 2019-2020.

On May 29, 2019 the Peace School final meeting for the 2018-2019 school year was held at the GDIP Media Center. About 30 participants came to the meeting. There were students and teachers from 6 Kyiv schools.

Representatives from each school reported about their peacemaking activities in 2019. Informative presentations with wonderful photos and videos about practical steps for implementing culture of peace included environmental projects, practical trainings, charity fundraising and others.

The students sincerely shared that their participation in the Peace School helped them to find the purpose of their school activities, unite with other activists, coordinate volunteer activity at school, and to encourage other students to become active participants and organizers of socially useful activities.

"If you want peace, create it!" said one of the volunteers. Indeed, the students are real peacemakers and worthy of the title "Junior Ambassador for Peace".

On March 19, 2019, Peace School training on etiquette was held at the Media Center of GDIP in Kyiv.

The training  was held by Natalia Adamenko, founder of the “Etiquette school”, an expert on the etiquette and diplomatic protocol, professional business coach, an active figure in science and art in Ukraine, known from the popular Ukrainian TV-projects "From bad girl to the lady", "Gentlemen’s School", "It's easy to be a woman".

The training was attended by 73 pupils and 10 teachers from 12 Kyiv schools.

The etiquette expert described the main rules of verbal and non-verbal communication that would help anyone to make the right first impression:

1. A smile, which is the key to open any door.
2. Posture: always keep your back straight.
3. onfident gait.
4. Rules of the dress code.

It was very interesting for children to hear about the nuances and interpretations of handshakes and gestures. The youth was impressed by such informative meeting, which provided the necessary knowledge for future career growth and successful professional development in the society.

On March 12, 2019, UPF organized the meeting of Ambassadors for Peace and Youth Ambassadors for Peace. The event took place at the wonderful institution —  Open International University of Human Development «Ukraine», which is considered by many as the center of development for sport, volunteer and scout youth movements.

The participants of this event were teachers and students of the “Ukraine” University  and other educational institutions. Volunteers and Youth Ambassadors for Peace from other parts of the world, including North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia, also joined the event.

Youth Ambassadors for Peace had the opportunity to share reports on their volunteer, charitable activities. In particular, representatives from "Ukraine" University reported on projects aimed at supporting Muslim students and intercultural exchange.

Students of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy talked about the "G20 Youth Model" for the formation of young leaders with a global vision.

Youth Ambassador for Peace from the United States shared experience of volunteering in different cities of Ukraine and introduced the American culture.

The meeting was fruitful, as it helped peace-builders get to know each other more, plan next action steps and receive ideas on further cooperation. Participants could support each other in socially useful activities and got the feeling of the global peace-building movement.

On January 4 and 16, 2019 Peace School organized an interesting program at Kyiv school # 85. Children and teachers from 14 Kyiv schools came to the meeting. All together about 90 participants attended the program. As special guests 16 students-volunteers from South Korea also came to take part in the program.

Participants presented the culture of their countries. Ukrainian children dressed in traditional clothes told how Ukrainian people celebrate Christmas and sang Christmas carols. Korean guests shared how they celebrate the New Year in Korea and made everybody happy with the songs in their native language.

In the end of the meeting all participants communicated with each other in English and played games. For many children it was the first experience of live communication with their coevals from other country.

All participants were very impressed with this event, got a lot of unforgettable emotions and inspiration. When the time of the meeting almost came to an end, nobody wanted to leave. Despite the difference in language and culture everyone could deeply feel like a particle of one family.