Youth Role in Fostering Peace

IDG Goal: Goal 2 – Peace through Dialogue

Ethiopia, a nation of 114 million people where roughly 70% of the population is under 30, has in recent years seen cycles of violent ethnic and religious conflict fuelled by misinformation and divisive narratives that have drawn young people into harm both as victims and perpetrators. In commemoration of Africa Youth Month, ACWAY Ethiopia organised a peace dialogue under the theme “Role of Youth in Fostering Peace”, bringing together 34 young people aged 18 to 35, 60% male, with representation from Orthodox Christian, Protestant, and Muslim backgrounds, and participants from both Addis Ababa and regional areas and featuring presentations from ACWAY, the Universal Peace Federation, the Warka Center, and Rotary Ethiopia’s Selamawi project, the programme equipped participants with analytical skills to resist misinformation, tools for democratic dialogue, and pathways to further engagement, including applications for the Global Youth Interfaith Forum in Qatar 2023. Supported by partners including Youth to Youth (Y2Y), which counts over 20,000 active members, the event met all its objectives and empowered a new generation of young peacebuilders to carry its impact back into their communities.