Peace Club Inspires and Empowers Young Indian Women
Patiala, India – Encouraging and empowering young people to become responsible citizens is one of UPF’s projects throughout the Asia-Pacific region. In pursuit of this goal, UPF-India organized the launch of a Peace Club at the Guru Hargobind Sahib Khalsa Girls College in Patiala, Punjab, on November 3, 2026. The initiative was co-organized by the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP-India), with the support of the Power House Youth Club, Patiala.
Many families in Patiala and the surrounding region face economic hardship, with substance abuse and unemployment particularly affecting young people. The Peace Club creates a student platform to encourage young women to become responsible citizens, develop leadership qualities, strengthen moral values, and actively participate in social service and peacebuilding activities, within the college and wider community. Plans include moral and character education, youth leadership workshops, and community service projects that promote social responsibility.
The launch event was organized under the leadership of Mr. Jatwinder Gerewal and Mr. Parminder Bhalwan, co-founders of the Power House Youth Club. The program was graced by the presence of Dr. Ramanjit Kaur, principal of Guru Hargobind Sahib Khalsa Girls College, who supported the initiative and highlighted the importance of positive youth engagement in building a better society.
Other distinguished faculty members included Dr. Narinder Kaur, associate professor and nodal officer of the Red Ribbon Club – a nationwide youth project that promotes AIDS awareness and prevention – and Ms. Arshpreet Kaur, assistant professor and program officer for the National Service Scheme (NSS), a government-sponsored program that encourages youth to engage in voluntary community service.
Mr. Manoj Kumar, secretary general of UPF-India, shared the importance of moral values and the role of young people in creating a peaceful world. He emphasized that peace should not remain only an idea or vision but must be practiced through concrete actions at the grassroots level.
Mr. Sudhanshu Raj, program coordinator of UPF-India, introduced the objectives and vision of the Peace Club initiative. He highlighted the importance of promoting moral and character education as well as youth leadership programs, and engaging youth in social service projects.
Faculty members and invited guests emphasized that building a peaceful world is a collective responsibility. They stressed that peace initiatives should begin at the grassroots level, particularly through educational institutions, students and local communities. They observed that when peacebuilding efforts start from the ground level, the mission of creating a peaceful world becomes more achievable and sustainable.
The program concluded with a shared commitment to promote peace, unity, mutual understanding and social responsibility among young people. The launch marked an important step towards strengthening grassroots peacebuilding initiatives through educational institutions and youth participation.
