Where: New York, USA and Globally
Solutions: Education and advocacy, Ocean and life below water, Capacity-building
Each year Peace Boat provides scholarships for youth ages 18 - 30 years old to participate in the "Youth for the SDGs" program. The primary objectives of the program are to raise awareness of the UN SDGs, encourage youth participation in the Agenda for Sustainable Development, empower them with the networks to contribute on a global scale and make a difference in their communities. Upon completing the program, youth scholars will be equipped with knowledge about the 2030 Agenda and the role of youth in its implementation. They will have gained skills including giving presentations, workshop facilitation, and media literacy to confidently participate in international meetings, share their messages and knowledge within their communities. Peace Boat has reached more than 100 youth through this program as well as hundreds of youth in the ports of call where they visit and via virtual platforms, working with civil society and UN partners to elevate their message for a sustainable future.
After the program, youth involved are encouraged to play an active part in various meetings to speak at Peace Boat events in collaboration with other civil society organizations and UN partners. Concrete examples include World Oceans Day, the High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development, and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP). Through these activities, they learn important skills for international diplomacy and are able to share their experiences and input as youth leaders while also meeting other Youth for SDGs Scholars contributing to the growing network of leaders with the knowledge and skills to tackle these global challenges.
Peace Boat was established as a voyage-centric NGO, so it has been a challenge to continue to achieve their goals while practicing social distancing during the global pandemic. They were able to keep the momentum for the "Youth for the SDGs" program through Ocean and Climate Action in 2020 by participating in a number of online events with the UN and civil society partners. They were also able to invite youth scholars to participate in these events from many different countries as they moved to a virtual platform, allowing them to be a part of the program without risking their safety. They had many youths participating this previous year and have continued to impact more youth this year.
Photos provided by Peace Boat US
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