Akural, Sri Lanka – In the beautiful coastal town of Akurala, in Galle district of Sri Lanka, UPF-Sri Lanka and Religious Youth Service (RYS) hosted a program to celebrate International Youth Day on August 12, 2026. The program was graced by the participation of Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, the seventh president of Sri Lanka, who attended as the chief guest. The morning assembly opened with deep spiritual solemnity, as representative prayers were offered by youth from five dist

Sao Tome City, Sao Tome & Principe – In conjunction with International Youth Day, UPF-Sao Tome held a program to promote environmental awareness among young people on August 15, 2026. The program was organized together with the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP). To help young people understand the importance of preserving coastal areas and preventing the sea from encroaching on the islands, organizers decided to conduct a mangrove planting proj

London, United Kingdom – Young people explored the challenges of ethical leadership in the age of artificial intelligence alongside practical approaches to peacebuilding, dialogue and conflict resolution during a UPF-UK youth leadership program on August 8, 2026. The online session included presentations from Dr. Lance Gardiner and Mr. David Fraser-Harris of UPF-UK, and Mr. Paul Gutteridge, founder of Track 2 Talks and an honorary fellow at the University of Birmingham's Edwa

Kathmandu, Nepal – In conjunction with International Youth Day, UPF-Nepal organized a youth seminar at Bhagyodaya College in Shankarapur Municipality, Kathmandu, under the theme “The Role of Youth Leadership, Restoring Trust: What Can Be Done for Peace Now?” The seminar, attended by 138 college students, focused on the role of youth in peacebuilding, restoring trust, promoting social harmony and developing responsible leadership. Mr. Rushan Basi, principal of Bhagyodaya Col

IAACP USA – Due to music's profound effect on people, young and old, the International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP) webinar on July 30, 2026, featured three young artists who are active in their communities in bringing a positive message to young people through their music. These young artists have embraced the ideals that IAACP advocates and they have created music videos that promote the creation of a culture of peace. To open the program, titled "Youn

Bangkok, Thailand – A group of two pastors and ten youths from the Chin Christian Council in Australia (CCCA) visited the UPF Peace Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand on July 10, 2026, as part of their 10-day educational tour through Thailand. UPF-Thailand, in collaboration with FFWPU Indochina and IAYSP Thailand, prepared a special youth leadership training program for them on the theme “Let’s Become Peacemakers.” After a light dinner, FFWPU representative Ms. NweNwe from Myanmar

South and Central America – A panel of young leaders from South and Central America and the Caribbean met in a webinar on July 17, to commemorate the United Nations World Youth Skills Day on the theme "Skills to Build Bridges and Break Down Barriers for Peace." The moderator, Mr. Mario Salinas, UPF secretary general for Latin America and the Caribbean, greeted the guests and panelists and shared the concept of the event. He explained that the UN agenda includes reducing the p

Moscow, Russia – The annual youth athletics supermarathon “Children Against Drugs – I Choose Sports” took place from June 12 to 26, 2026, with UPF-Russia serving as a co-organizer, as part of its Peace Road initiative. Over the course of two weeks, young runners completed a relay run from Moscow through the historic cities of Russia’s Golden Ring, combining sport, cultural heritage, remembrance, and meaningful encounters with local communities. Around 1,800 people joined the

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire –The Federation of Tourism Industry of Côte d’Ivoire (FENITOURCI) and UPF-Côte d’Ivoire signed a partnership agreement on May 16, 2026, at the headquarters of the National Tourism Council, aimed at training 16,080 young people in tourism-related professions, while simultaneously promoting values of peace and social cohesion. The initiative, which will be deployed across all 201 communes of Côte d’Ivoire, seeks to train and support the professional integ

Ticino, Switzerland – On May 1, 2026, UPF-Switzerland held the 13th Peace Cup tournament in Ticino, promoting fair play and inclusion among young athletes. The event brought together ten Swiss and two Italian teams of 10- to 11-year-old football players. In his opening remarks, regional UPF President Mr. Giuseppe Termine, a social educator, encouraged the participants to make the most out of their football experience. “Today we are not just opening a football tournament. We a

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – In conjunction with the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the Cambodian Tong Il Moo Do Federation held its national championship from April 8-11, 2026, at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. The event brought together athletes, coaches and supporters from across Cambodia, encouraging discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship. Tong Il Moo Do is a comprehensive martial art system founded on principles of unifying body and mind, character

Voronezh, Russia – A series of engaging and inspiring lessons for high school students took place in Voronezh on April 8, 2026, as part of the environmental program “Caring for the Future.” The initiative was organized by Ms. Elena Knyazeva , head of UPF-Voronezh and coordinator of environmental programs in Russia. The purpose of the event was to spark young people’s interest in environmental issues, sustainable development, agriculture and social responsibility. During the