CHANDIGARH—10th Global Youth Peace Fest-2015 concluded with a note of spirit of friendship, trust and understanding at RGNIYD, Regional Centre, Sector 12 here on Friday. The 4-day Fest has a number of programmes from special meditation and yoga session to peace rally to blood donation. Over 60 delegates from SAARC countries assembled, discussed and debated on important issues related to youth in the region. The summit was organized by the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Regional Centre, in collaboration with Yuvasatta under the aegis of Global Youth Peace Fest.
Besides, 250 youth leaders and change makers attended the GYPF-2015. While talking to some of the participants admitted that such summits provided them a platform for cross-fertilization of ideas so they could become true global citizens in thinking and action. It will create volunteer action that shall co-create a future suits to the energy and vision of their vast potential. .
While speaking on the 2nd SAARC Youth Leadership Summit, chief guest Vijay Dev, Adviser to UT Administrator, ”Ours is a region of thriving democracy of rich inheritance, unmatched strength of youth, throbbing with the optimism of our youth. We can capitalize demographic dividend of youth.”He also stressed on the physical fitness of youth and said if youth was not physical fit he could not contribute to the society. He hoped that it would facilitate and strengthen trust, faith, optimism and friendship among youth of the region. He also released a quarterly newsletter “Yuva” of RGNIYD, Chandigarh highlighting the initiatives and impacts of its programmes across the region. While addressing the participants he said,”
Stanzin Dawa, Regional Coordinator, RGNIYD said that in the past over 17,000 people that included young, youth work professionals, NSS programme officers, Nehru Yuvak Kendras, NCC officers, academia, government officials and civil society of 22 states and 13 countries by developing partnership with over 30 organizations. Besides, 47 innovative programmes have been implemented.
Delegates from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Dr Markandey from UN Habitat while addressing the summit advocated for meaningful engagement of youth people in development and peace building process in the SAARC region. Delegates also deliberated on investing in youth development, youth participation rural transformation and achieving sustainable development goals.
Ediola Secretary General, World Assembly of Youth highlighted challenges and opportunities for youth in the 21st century.
GYPF 2015 reinvents and nurtures the age old philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, an integral part of Indian ethos that inculcated an understanding of cohesive living. The summit has succeeded in inculcate broader understanding among youth contribution in democracy and development, believed participants.