Dialogue in Singapore and Malaysia: the Ukraine Youth Ambassadors

Seven Ukraine Youth Ambassadors (UYA) on Peace Boat’s 117th Global Voyage visited the Embassy of Ukraine in Singapore as the ship called to the island national state on April 22, 2024. There, they had a dialogue with the Ukrainian Ambassador H.E. Kateryna Zelenko, who provided them with an overview of Singapore's economic support of Ukraine during the war. She particularly emphasized the readiness of Singapore to open economic possibilities in rebuilding the country in postwar time. Youth Ambassador Tetiana Vazhynska reflected that “we heard a lot of new information which will be helpful in the future, when we want to connect with business and IT companies in Singapore and help our country in reconstruction.”

In the afternoon, the group visited the United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), part of a network of schools which make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. There, they interacted with high school students from various countries, sharing their personal testimonies of their war experiences as well as perspectives on future peacebuilding. The intensive dialogue, exchange and sharing was very inspiring for the Youth Ambassadors, reassuring them that even in this part of the world young people are aware of the war situation in Ukraine and support their peace mission.

The following day Peace Boat called to the port of Port Klang in Malaysia. There, the youth spoke at a press conference organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in Malaysia, where Mr. Tee Ching Seng, Vice Chairman of International Affairs and Party Diplomacy Bureau in Kuala Lumpur gave them a warm welcome. The Youth Ambassadors answered questions from local authorities, the press and the Polish Ambassador H.E. Krzysztof Dobrowolski about youth perspectives on the ongoing war and delivered their personal stories and appeal for peace in Ukraine.

Youth Ambassador Natalia Makohon gave several interviews to the Malaysian press: “Journalists asked really deep questions about the war in Ukraine. Since this was our first direct interaction with foreign journalists on our journey, I was happy that I could share information about our peace mission with Peace Boat and the Ukrainian Youth Ambassadors' appeal for peace and our future.”