Leeds Young Peacemakers Lead the Way in LA!

'Peace Jam': Los Angeles, 11-13 September 2008

(Students and staff from Intake High School with Desmond Tutu at Peace Jam, Sept 2008)

FORTY YOUNG PEOPLE from across Leeds are just back from Los Angeles... where they've been rubbing shoulders with Nobel Peace laureates, at the international 'Peace Jam' gathering!

The innovative 'Peace Jam' initiative enables young people from across the world to meet with and learn from Nobel Peace laureates, then be mentored to become peace-builders in their communities. T4P enabled four young people from Leeds to attend the last gathering in 2006, and this year worked with staff at six schools – South Leeds High School, Abbey Grange, Brigshaw High, Garforth Community College, Otley Prince Henry's and Intake High – to enable youngsters from each of those schools to attend this year’s event.

The inspiring (and fun!) 3-day event hosted 3000+ young people from across the globe, and featured seven Nobel laureates, including Desmond Tutu, Iranian activist Shirin Ebadi and anti-landmines campaigner Jody Williams. The , and featured seven Nobel laureates, including Desmond Tutu, Iranian activist Shirin Ebadi and anti-landmines campaigner Jody Williams. The Leeds group – the biggest contingent from any city outside the USA – report that they found the experience transformative; one commented that ‘Peace Jam has totally changed the way I think’. They are now back in Leeds developing peace projects within and between their schools.

T4P and our partners are now building for the next UK ‘Peace Jam’ events, in Bradford in November and March… and maybe even looking to host the international 'Peace Jam' gathering in West Yorkshire within the next few years. Get in touch to get involved – we are particularly interested in working with young people outside mainstream school.

Thanks to all those staff members, sponsors and others who are making this vision possible, to Education Leeds for all their support, and to the Hesco Bastion Fund for his recent offer of financial sponsorship. For more info or a report on the LA trip, to get involved, or to discuss sponsoring other young people from Leeds to access the amazing opportunities that 'Peace Jam' affords, please contact the T4P team.