Inspired by the Climate Change Movement led by youth, this project will educate, empower, and motivate youth to become activists by bringing them to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons' Forum in Paris. Afterwards, the youth will organize outreach and educational events on their university campuses, engage with diplomats, and spark a movement. Ultimately, this project aims to inspire a movement led by the next generation of global leaders.
There are around 14,000 nuclear weapons in the world. We have a treaty that prohibits nuclear weapons. However, due to educational deficits, the vast majority of American youth are not aware of the Treaty, and the humanitarian and environmental impacts of nuclear weapons. Youth do not have a platform at forums to articulate and present their views. It is rare for one to see a group of diverse youth in the forums and discussions that affect their future. Overall, barriers hinder youth engagement.
The students will participate in a humanitarian-based orientation co-led by an educator from Columbia and youth campaigners. At the forum, they will learn about the importance of the Ban Treaty and how young campaigners can make a difference. The students will feel empowered to organize events at their universities and engage with diplomats on nuclear disarmament.
In the long term, the ten students will ignite a youth movement through organizing workshops at their universities about the intersections of nuclear disarmament and climate change. In turn, the workshops will spark interests amongst students to implement concrete actions. We aim to spark a youth movement for them to participate in the 2020 NPT Review Conference in significant numbers, organize a side event on humanitarian education, and contribute to an international youth statement.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
