Conference programme 2025

15:30 – 15:45 | Opening & Welcome


• The conference will begin with a brief welcome session, including an interactive icebreaker and guidance on the day’s structure and goals
• Engagement Setup – Participant expectations and guidance on using chat, Q&A, reactions, and #Youth4Peace2025
• Moderator: Victor Del Vecchio (Brazilian lawyer, educator and climate leader advancing human rights, sustainability and youth engagement)

15:45 – 16:15 | Keynote Session + Q&A


• Speaker: Saumya Aggarwal
 (Co-founder and CEO of Youth for Peace International)
• A dynamic keynote featuring 'Youth Leadership in Peacebuilding: Opportunities and Roadblocks' followed by a ~10-minute Q&A.

16:15 – 16:25 | Short Break (10 min)

16:25 – 17:10 | Parallel Workshops (45 min)


Participants will choose one of the following workshops:

1. Gatekeepers, Algorithms, and Us: Rethinking Access to Information in the Age of Social Media 

   Facilitators: Maya El-Dib (Media and Communication Officer at UNDP Lebanon) and Ghadir Hamadi (Journalist and Founder of Sawab) 
   Explore how algorithms shape access to information, misinformation challenges, and practical fact-checking tools

2. Civil Society and Youth in Nonviolent Struggles - Experiences from Serbia

   Facilitator: Velimir Milošev (Governing Board President, National Youth Council of Serbia) 
   Insights on how youth in Serbia are reshaping nonviolent resistance and what civil society can do to stand beside them

3. Youth, Peace and Security in Action: Insights from Germany 

   Facilitator: Lisa Mastiaux (Policy Advisor, State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia) 
   How youth organizations in Germany contribute to peace and social cohesion - achievements and challenges within the framework of the UN Youth, Peace and Security Agenda

4. Advancing Youth, Peace and Security and Strategies for Global Youth-Led Peacebuilding: A Case Study of Nigeria 

   Facilitator: Eseimokumo Albert Tony (International Steering Group Representative of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders in West and Central Africa)
   Examining the contributions of young peace activists in West Africa

17:10 – 17:20 | Short Break (10 min)

17:20 – 17:35 | Workshop Sharing Session (15 min)


• A collective debrief where participants from each workshop share key insights and takeaways with the wider group.

17:35 – 18:15 | Closing Panel: Reflections and Forward Thinking (40 min)


• Abdullah O. Bility (Co-Chair, Liberia Coalition on Youth Peace and Security), Heela Yoon (Founder and Executive Director of the Afghan Youth Ambassadors for Peace Organization), Lisa Mastiaux (Policy Advisor, State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia)
• A moderated discussion highlighting takeaways, next steps, and visions for the future of peacebuilding and impact work.

18:15 – 18:30 | Conference Wrap-Up & Evaluation (15 min)


• Closing remarks, participant reflections, and feedback

• An opportunity to reflect on the day, complete evaluations, and share final thoughts

The conference will be held online using zoom as our conference tool. All the sessions and parts of the conference will be accessible through this link:

Go to conference
 
The Conference can only be successful if you and all the other participants engage actively before, during and after the Conference. Therefore we will use mainly one digital tool (particify) to increase the interaction. The link will be the same for all the different activities:

Go to particify

Saumya Aggarwal is the co-founder and CEO of Youth for Peace International working on a vision to empower youth on conflict transformation, providing rehabilitation support to Refugees and advocating for meaningful youth engagement by implementing YPS agenda. She has established a free National Mental Health Support helpline that aims to address mental health implications of pandemic in India. She serves as a Board Member at Peace First to support and fund the work of young people globally. Further she works with United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) as Asia Coordinator and manages the YCL program at the United States Institute of Peace.

Maya Al Dib is a Lebanese media and communications professional with over 7 years of experience in media, storytelling, and peacebuilding. She currently serves as the Media and Communications Officer at UNDP Lebanon, where she designs and leads nationwide campaigns, youth-driven media programs, and digital peacebuilding initiatives that strengthen resilience, counter divisive narratives, and support youth-led initiatives. With a background in media studies, audiovisual production, and mediation, she has produced documentaries and conducted research on archives and memory, reflecting her interest in how collective narratives are shaped. Her work bridges communication for development and digital innovation, ensuring that media and youth engagement become drivers of social change and peacebuilding in Lebanon’s complex context.

Ghadir Hamadi is the founder of Sawab, a youth-led fact-checking initiative dedicated to curbing the spread of fake news and hate speech on social media platforms in Lebanon. Through Sawab, Ghadir and her team aim to foster a culture of critical thinking, encouraging the public to verify information before sharing it. The initiative aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), with the ultimate goal of reducing tensions at both local and national levels that are often exacerbated by misinformation.

Ghadir currently works as a Breaking News Reporter at L’Orient Today, the English-language publication of L’Orient-Le Jour.

Lisa Mastiaux serves as Managing Director of the German Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), where she leads strategic coordination and advocacy to ensure that young people’s perspectives are integrated into peace and security policy. As the coalition’s registered representative in the German Bundestag’s Lobby Register, she is a key link between youth civil society and national decision-making. Her work emphasizes building meaningful platforms for youth participation. At the 18th German Child and Youth Welfare Congress (DJHT), Mastiaux presented the coalition’s efforts to mainstream YPS across domestic and foreign policy, highlighting the practical steps needed to strengthen youth engagement. She has also contributed to the Helmut Schmidt Foundation’s “Gen P(eacebuilder)” project, which profiles young professionals shaping global peacebuilding debates. Internationally, Mastiaux has represented the coalition and German youth perspectives at high-level fora. In 2024 she was invited to Peace Week Albania, organized by UNA Albania, where she spoke about youth leadership in preventing violence and advancing inclusive security. Her prior experience includes serving as a Youth7 (Y7) Track Sherpa in the G7 process, advising on youth policy recommendations, and participating as a Youth Fellow with the International Youth Think Tank, where she engaged in democratic innovation initiatives.

Velimir Milosev is the President of the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS) where he leads efforts to strengthen youth participation in policy-making, democratic governance, and civic life. With a background in political science and years of grassroots activism, he bridges local engagement with international advocacy, representing Serbian youth in key national, European and global forums. Velimir’s leadership at KOMS is marked by a strategic and inclusive approach, working closely with institutions, NGOs, and young people to shape policies that reflect the real needs and aspirations of youth in Serbia. In response to student-led protests against corruption, Serbia has undergone significant transformation. KOMS under Velimir has successfully garnered international support, including through the European Youth Forum as the largest representative youth body in Europe, and has underscored the transformative power of youth in shaping Serbia’s trajectory towards a more democratic political landscape.

Abdullah O. Bility is a dedicated Youth Peace and Security (YPS) expert and peacebuilder with years of experience in advocacy, volunteerism, and youth development in Liberia. As the Executive Director of Peace Agents Network (PAN) and a co-chair of Liberia’s Youth Peace and Security Coalition, he plays a central role in promoting meaningful youth participation in peacebuilding processes. Under his leadership, PAN has contributed significantly to community reconciliation, efforts to end child marriage, combating sexual and gender-based violence, and fostering youth engagement in local peace processes.

Bility was instrumental in the establishment and official launch of the Liberia Youth Peace and Security (YPS) Coalition, which supports the development and eventual adoption of a National Action Plan on Youth, Peace & Security (NAPYPS) through consultations, drafting, validation, and oversight activities. Additionally, he is recognized as a peace advocate, entrepreneur, and changemaker, having received prestigious recognition such as the Diana Award in 2021.

Eseimokumo Albert Tony is a dedicated youth leader and peacebuilder, serving as the International Steering Group (ISG) Representative of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) in West and Central Africa. In this role, she represents youth organisations across her region, ensuring their voices and experiences inform both regional strategies and global peacebuilding agendas. As part of UNOY’s elected governance body, Eseimokumo contributes to strategic planning and advocacy around the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda. She is also the Program Officer for Youth, Peace, and Security with the Building Blocks for Peace Foundation. She plays a key role in bridging grassroots realities with international policy, promoting inclusive governance, and strengthening the participation of young people in peace processes. Her leadership also focuses on capacity building and youth empowerment. She supports initiatives that foster peer-to-peer learning, cross-cultural exchange, and skills development, enabling young leaders to drive change within their communities. By creating inclusive spaces for dialogue and innovation, she highlights the essential role of youth-led organisations as incubators of peace and resilience. Through her work, Eseimokumo demonstrates the transformative power of youth leadership in building sustainable peace, connecting local action with global advocacy, and ensuring young people remain at the heart of peacebuilding efforts.

Heela Yoon is a resilient Afghan refugee-turned-peacebuilder currently based in the UK. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Afghan Youth Ambassadors for Peace Organization (AYAPO), a grassroots NGO focused on implementing UNSC Resolutions 1325 (Women, Peace and Security) and 2250 (Youth, Peace and Security) across eastern Afghanistan—where she has led leadership trainings for nearly 100 young girls, facilitated peace dialogues with religious and tribal leaders, and advocated for girls’ education. A recognized United Nations Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals, Heela also serves as an External Board Member advising the UK FCDO on strategies for women’s and community empowerment. Her professional experience spans roles with leading international entities including the UN Women network, Amnesty International, Oxfam GB, IRC, and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) as a Cora Weiss Peacebuilding Fellow.

Victor Del Vecchio is a Brazilian lawyer, educator, and climate leader dedicated to advancing human rights, sustainability, and youth engagement in global challenges. A member of LACLIMA (Latin American Climate Lawyers Initiative for Mobilizing Action) and former collaborator with the International Organization for Migration and the São Paulo Secretariat for Human Rights and Citizenship, he bridges law, policy, and grassroots activism. Through his work as a climate leader, Victor empowers young people to see climate action as a path to social justice and peacebuilding. His insights connect environmental stewardship, international politics, and civic participation—showing how youth leadership can transform crises into opportunities for lasting peace.