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Student Peace Alliance coordinator Aaron Voldman
and Canadian counterpart, Stephanie Jensen-Cormier
Dear all,
This is to thank Aaron, Steph, Peter, Theresa and others who helped with the Department of Peace project at the 4-day National YOUCAN Conference in Ottawa this week.
The Department of Peace Campaign participation in this Convention with 500 youth
delegates was extensive. We were the opening keynote speaker - Aaron and Steph
made very impressive presentations. Their speeches brought us the following day
participants (age 12 to 15 yrs) in two interactive Department of Peace
workshops.
The workshop entitled "Peace Activism and Sept of Peace" involved
participation of 50 youths, these were moderated by Aaron, Steph, Peter and
myself. Presence of our two Department of Peace youth reps was very crucial
as this was a conference with a unique platform where the youths were meant to resolve problems of
other youths.
The next day, The Department of Peace was again part of
the three "Dialogues"
involving all the delegates. It tackled the theme of ' Peace as a Profession and as a Volunteer'. The event also had in the hotel lobby information
kiosks to meet with and distribute relevant material to the delegates. Most
of Department of Peace brochures provided by Victoria chapter were picked
by the attendees. The feedback from both Workshops and Dialogues was useful.
We see a great
potential for youth chapter formation in partnership with YOUCAN (and
independently) over the next 12 months. Peter and I in a couple of weeks
will be meeting with friends in YOUCAN to discuss the feedback received
and an action plan indicating potential nodes where such youth chapter
development across Canada might be feasible. Some of this feedback will be
also covered in our April 03-05 "Peace as a Profession in 21st
Century Conference", where YOUCAN executive has agreed to participate
in one of the panels. Peter Stockdale has agreed to take the lead in
coordinating the youth chapter development with YOUCAN.
While Aaron, Steph and Peter will be writing separately about their
impressions of the Convention, this note is mainly to reiterate my grateful
thanks for their great contribution in championing DoP cause at this special youth platform. I think we have broken some new ground here.
Love and Peace,
Bill
Chair of Department of Peace Canada working group and YOUCAN organizer
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