PeaceJam Returns to the U.S. with GPFA-USA in New York City

On September 23, GPFA-USA proudly partnered with PeaceJam to bring its peace education programming back to the United States for the first time since 2021!

The event was held at Information Technology High School in Queens, New York and it brought together more than 100 students in grades 9-12. The event engaged students in interactive activities and discussions focused on peace, leadership, service and changemaking.

Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee joined students to share lessons from her lifelong work for peace and justice in Liberia and around the world. Students gathered in small groups to discuss development issues that are important to them and their communities. Issues like environmental changes, racism and violence were a few of the issues highlighted as important to the students. They discussed how they can play a role in making changes to these issues even within their school and communities.

Throughout the school year, GPFA-USA and Information Technology High School will continue engaging students with the PeaceJam curriculum. Students will work together to develop a service-learning project that can be shared with the wider school community at the end of the year.

PeaceJam’s mission to educate and empower young people to take action for peace in their own communities, inspired by the work of Nobel Peace Laureates. Through its award-winning curriculum, PeaceJam encourages students to recognize their own potential as leaders and develop the skills to create meaningful change. Additionally, the curriculum emphasizes self-discovery and takes students through a “…mastery of six core competencies while engaging them in service-learning to address the most pressing issues facing their communities and the world – building compassionate leaders with character”.

We are grateful to PeaceJam for this partnership, Information Technology High School for welcoming us, and The Points Guy, for sponsoring the event and helping make this opportunity possible.

PeaceJam’s return to the United States marks an exciting new chapter for building meaningful change. Its return to the U.S will have young people at the center of creating change for more peaceful and compassionate communities. It is our intent to expand this program in other areas of the US.