[IPYG]

[IPYG] IPYG's International Volunteer Day in Bangladesh

Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The  DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.

Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.

How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.

Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.

Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.

I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.

Today I'd like to introduce an article regarding IPYG(International Peace Youth Group, a youth group under HWPL)'s affiliate group in Bangladesh.

IPYG conducted educational volunteering in India and Bangladesh in commemoration of the UN ‘International Volunteer Day’

IPYG conducted an educational volunteering in India and Bangladesh on December 5, 2023, in commemoration of the UN-designated ‘International Volunteer Day.’

Upon requests for a collaboration from youth organizations in India and Bangladesh, IPYG provided the Youth Empowerment Peace Class (YEPC). Particularly, the course ‘The Power of Youth,’ which contains stories of citizens who have successfully ended conflicts and achieved peace, provided an opportunity to instill courage in the youth of India and Bangladesh regarding their role in promoting peace.

IPYG collaborated with the ‘Society for Participatory Action and Reflection’ (SPAR) to conduct educational volunteering in the outlying areas of West Bengal, India, where educational opportunities are scarce. Following the educational activities, a program for unity was organized, creatively emphasizing the significance of individual roles in achieving peace for 105 young students.

In the Manipur region of India, educational volunteering was also carried out for over 70 young individuals. Through speech sessions, the youth discussed the need to prevent conflicts and preserve peace. The speeches highlighted the importance of not exposing children to war zones and emphasized the necessity of providing educational environments for the youth, receiving significant positive response.

Furthermore, in Bangladesh, the IPYG and the ‘Center for Communication and Development of Bangladesh’ (CCD) collaborated to organize an event in celebration of the International Volunteer Day. Held at the University of Rajshahi, the event featured a peace photo exhibition to emphasize the importance of peace. Participants in the event felt a direct connection between peace and life, expressing their desire to engage in peace activities starting from small efforts. They also expressed their intention to participate in various activities in the future through collaboration with IPYG. Going forward, IPYG plans to publish a peace newspaper for the youth in collaboration with the CCD, encouraging continued participation in peace-related initiatives.

The collaborative educational volunteering effort between IPYG and local youth organizations was a valuable time that aimed to raise awareness about the importance of peace activities among the youth in India and Bangladesh, encouraging voluntary participation.

Interested in HWPL's peace work for the world? Please visit following link :)

HWPL Official Homepage

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/home-hwpl-_en/