Young Peace Ambassadors Academy 2015 Graduation Ceremony


Date posted: July 10, 2015

In April 2015, Peace Islands Institute launched the Young Peace Ambassadors Academy (YPAA), which is a peace education program for the middle and high school students in the New York City. The aim of this 6-weeks intense leadership program is to provide a space platform for the students, who are interested in the social science, to learn about the global issues and United Nations.

The Young Peace Ambassadors Program had a very successful start by receiving full endorsement from Chancellor Carmen Farina who was thrilled to know that the NGO has decided to inspire students from not only private sector but opened the program to all of the students in all of the 5 boroughs. This is an extraordinary opportunity for all of the students who reside in New York. In addition, State of New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, The City of New York Mayor Bill de Bilasio, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer, Congresswoman Grace Meng, and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, have also sent their endorsements and best wishes to all of the graduates.

The recognition from the highest leaders in New York and is a clear indicator of the priceless value of the program. In April 2015, Peace Islands Institute launched the Young Peace Ambassadors Academy (YPAA), which is a peace education program for the middle and high school students in the New York City. The aim of this 6-weeks intense leadership program is to provide a space platform for the students, who are interested in the social science, to learn about the global issues and United Nations.

The Academy consists of a series of structured weekly workshops with a different topic discussed every session from the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda. Our presenters are experts in their field who provided background information on the selected topics to create awareness about the global issues. Workshop sessions are followed by the presentation of the guest speakers, who have years of experience and knowledge. We hosted several distinguished UN diplomats and leaders of the prominent civil-society organizations. These guest speakers shared the best practices of their institutions in building sustainable peace and inclusive societies for all.

Young-Peace-Ambassadors1

YPAA 2015 had 30 students from 12 different high-school students including the five boroughs of the NYC. In the first week of the Academy, students have chosen a UN Member State from a raffle to represent the nation throughout the sessions.

Becoming the Permanent Representatives of their Member States, students have conducted a detailed research about the priorities of their countries in the United Nations. Every week, Young Peace Ambassadors shared insights about the particular topic of the workshop. In this respect, learning and practicing the diplomatic speaking, improving the self-confidence and group working skills were some of the remarkable assets that students gained by attending the Academy.

On 23 May 2015, Peace Islands Institute organized the Graduation Ceremony for the Young Peace Ambassadors of the Academy. The program started with the welcome speech of Mr. Mehmet Kilic, who is the Director of the Center for Global Affairs at PII. Mr. Kilic`s remarks was followed by the keynote addresses of Ms. Rabia Madhi, Diplomat from UN Office of Information & Communications Technology, Mrs. Monica Bajraktarevic, Manhattan Representative of the Citywide Council on High Schools and Mr. Patrick Browne, who is the Assistant Principle of the Aviation High-School.

Young-Peace-Ambassadors2

Following the keynote remarks, the floor was our Young Peace Ambassadors` who have addressed the audience by briefing about the nations that they represent in the General Assembly of the YPAA. Ms. Marie Claudine, who is a Rwanda Genocide Survivor and the President of the “Why Do I Exist?” Foundation recited her own poem “Peace”. The ceremony ended with Mr. Kilic and Ms. Madhi giving the PII Certificate of Completion and Public Service Certificate given by the Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. After the family picture with the students, parents, and our guest speakers, lunch was served with the different cuisines brought by the students.

Topics of the Young Peace Ambassadors Academy

  • Week 1: United Nations & Global Citizenship
  • Week 2: Human Rights
  • Week 3: Peace & Conflict Resolution
  • Week 4: Women Empowerment & Girls Education
  • Week 5: Eradication of Poverty & Hunger
  • Week 6: Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change

Read more

Source: Peace Islands Institute

Tags: | | |


Related News

‘I see the Hizmet movement as the best expression of Islam’

The Prophet Muhammad said that, it is in the Quran, it says that, we are created in different societies, cultures and backgrounds as a challenge to come together and understand each other and to bring about peace.

Cuban artist wins Kimse Yok Mu’s international cartoon competition

Arístides Esteban Hernández Guerrero, an internationally acclaimed cartoonist and illustrator from Cuba also known as Ares, has won the international cartoon competition titled “Refugees,” which was organized by Turkish charity organization Kimse Yok Mu.

Kanter: You need to know what is going on in Turkey

Question: You are being called a terrorist by Turkish government. What is your opinion on the widespread use of this term by the Government? Kanter: This is a term that many governments are using to scare people and get public support. No one likes terrorists — so if you brand your opponents as terrorists it’s easy to get support. The Turkish government has even accuses the US of being terrorist sponsors, they are a joke now.

Understanding of Muslims in US is limited, says scholar

“Part of what we are doing involves interfaith work,” says Turk, and he brings up the role of the Pacifica Institute in California that does similar work in accordance with the teachings of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. “The same values are taught by Gülen,” Turk says, and adds that students from the Gülen-inspired Hizmet movement attend Bayan Claremont as well. “We are educating the next generation of Islamic scholars and community leaders,” Turk says.

As Turks flee oppression, Ottawa urged to speak out on human rights issues

Asylum seekers are still fleeing Turkey for Canada and other western countries, Kaplan said. “There’s at least 14 families (in my neighbourhood in Ottawa). I mean ladies (with kids). All their husbands have been arrested (in Turkey,)” he said. The women are not comfortable speaking out publicly for fear it could imperil their husbands behind bars in Turkey, he added.

“Turkey, with the great assistance of Fethullah Gülen‎ has been a model”

The Gülen Movement, has established a fine base, and the fact that there is perhaps some conflict and debate about the wisdom of doing it, or some of the techniques that are used, I think is very, very healthy.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Autopsy proves Turkish military student’s throat slit during coup attempt, sister says

27-Years-Old Mother With 11-Months-Old Son Found In Ankara’s Sincan Prison

Fethullah Gulen’s response to ‘coup’ accusations

Financial Times publishes Fethullah Gulen’s Op-Ed

Does the Gülen movement securitize the Kurdish question?

Turkish businessmen have first iftar with Syrian refugees in Hatay

The tragic end of the witch hunt

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News