What if all high school students emerged as changemakers equipped to build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable future? Young Leaders for Peace (YLP) exists to imagine just that.
YLP launched in June 2025 at the University for Peace (UPEACE) in San José, Costa Rica, as a two-week summer experience that equips young people with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to lead efforts for peace in their communities and beyond. Co-founded by two high school students motivated by the intense debates they witnessed among their families and peers, the program grew from a shared belief that peaceful conflict resolution is not only possible, but requires a fundamental shift in perspective. For nearly a year, the founders worked closely with UPEACE faculty and the University’s New York City office to co-develop the YLP curriculum and activities.
Established pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 35/55 in 1980, UPEACE is a graduate institution dedicated to peace education, primarily offering master’s and doctoral programs. YLP stands out as a unique initiative designed specifically to engage youth. The program immerses participants in an academic and experiential environment where peace pedagogy comes alive, set against the backdrop of UPEACE’s campus in rural El Rodeo de Mora, surrounded by rich biodiversity and wildlife.
Throughout the program, participants take part in graduate-level, seminar-style workshops led by UPEACE faculty, complemented by immersive, place-based learning experiences. Activities range from reflective forest walks to visits to coffee farms and coastal restoration projects. These experiences reinforce the idea that peace is active, collaborative, and deeply connected to both social systems and the natural world. One participant reflected, “This program has really emphasized community and collaboration,” highlighting the participatory learning approach at the heart of YLP.
Costa Rica’s long-standing commitment to peace provides an inspiring context for the program. The country’s decision to abolish its military in 1948 and reinvest in education, healthcare, and environmental protection demonstrates that peace extends beyond the absence of conflict to include sustainable and equitable development. Through hands-on experiences such as working in the UPEACE campus greenhouse, participants come to understand that environmental stewardship is integral to building lasting peace.
As one participant shared, “Instead of the misconception of youth being the future, I think it all starts with us as young leaders… to learn and then take our education to go teach others and start creating a better future for ourselves.” The YLP experience reinforces the idea that peacebuilding begins now, with young people empowered to take leadership roles in their communities.
The program was recently featured in Peace Prospects, a peace leadership magazine, and applications for the 2026 YLP cohort are now open.
Learn more about the Young Leaders for Peace.