[IPYG]

[IPYG] IPYG's Fourth Summer Semester of 2024 Youth Empowerment Peace Class

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's Youth Empowerment Peace Class in the World.

The Fourth Summer Semester of 2024 Youth Empowerment Peace Class

▲ Austria YEPC-the 4th

From April to June this year, the 4^th term of IPYG’s “Youth Empowerment Peace Class (YEPC)” was conducted in 26 countries over about two months. YEPC is an initiative to provide peace education to youth worldwide, empowering them to practice peace. It is held annually in various regions around the globe.

The 4^th term of YEPC includes a new subject called “The Power of Youth” Education which aims to understand the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) by exploring the nature of conflicts of 21st-century and the background of the birth of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In addition, “Youth Health” Education to learn how to provide first aid in various situations and “Religion and Peace – The Second HWPL International Religious Peace Academy (IRPA), About Birth, Aging, Illness, & Death” Education to promote a culture of respect and understanding were held.

The education was operated in various parts of the world by IPYG’s regional working group, Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Group (YEPW). Particularly, the working group in the Czech Republic and Zambia selected employment and mental health content relevant to local youth as their educational themes. They invited experts in these fields to lead the lessons.

▲ Cambodia YEPC-the 4th

Participants in the 4^th YEPC term shared the following impressions.

Emmanuel Sakala, Program Coordinator of Zambia National Students’ Union(ZANASU) said, “Thank you very much for educative and informative education. Helped us understand the value of peace, the cause of wars. Trying to promote peace. I want to emphasize that it goes for all young people. And we need to share with each other so that everyone is on the same page, how world war started.”

Also, he explained, “We have responsibility to pass on peace to next generation, so that they can be free from war. In Zambia there has been a lot happening, conflict, sometimes war. Young people getting information make sure that we can be policy makers that we can support DPCW and to submit to UN.”

▲ Iraq, Egypt YEPC-the 4th

Gobardhan Pravishek, Student of University Of Technology Mauritius shared, “It was amazing. I learned many new things today and I am sure that this course will help me in the future. I learned what to do during emergency situations and this can help to save a life. It would be pleasure to share my knowledge others.”

MatlhogonoloTlhomelang, Program officer of Kgorogo Social Investment said, “Religion and Peace Education was thought provoking, meaningful and open. That we all have different believes but consequently we all believe in 1 God. Our supernatural being. Life is a cycle, a wheel that turns regeneration of birth, life and death and ultimately the importance of reconnecting to our spirituality.”

Waqas jan, International Director of Truth Youth Group expressed, “When I joined the YEPC class as a youth group member, I saw how peace was made in different places in the world and also the whole chart which was shown with different videos showing with graphs that In which world war and after how much loss in which country, when peace was established, how are their current conditions? Realized and in this world I believe that establishing peace is very important for our future people and generations and I am grateful to IPYG for giving us the opportunity to be a part of this group. Thank you for learning about peace.”

▲ Pakistan YEPC-the 4th Graduation Ceremony

YEPC provides tailored education on the values of peace that youth should embrace and practice as global citizens. As a result, it has received widespread support from youth organizations worldwide.

After completing the courses, participants join IPYG’s regional working group, YEPW, to continue discussions and activities to realize peace within their communities. The YEPC supports the working groups to further their peace activities and provides youth with the necessary peace knowledge and motivation to implement it.

IPYG plans to hold an additional winter semester of YEPC 4^th term this coming November and will launch a new 5th program next summer. We ask for your continued interest and support in YEPC’s activity that educates youth to practice the values of peace.

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/