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Ukrainian Youth Ambassadors - Stories of the War
Ukraine Youth Ambassadors was a three-and-a-half-month programme organized onboard Peace Boat on its 117th Global Voyage, 2024. Young Ukrainian students and professionals living in Japan—most of whom had fled Ukraine due to the war—joined the entire voyage. They visited 20 countries around the world in Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa, Europe, and North America in order to tell the world about the war in their country and to appeal for international support for peace in Ukraine. The voyage provided many opportunities for the Youth Ambassadors for network building, capacity and skills development, and empowerment of young people to become leaders for the future of their country.
At events in 13 ports of call around the world, the Youth Ambassadors met with think tanks and non-governmental organizations, researchers and policymakers, as well as youth and members of the public to share their war testimonies and youth visions for peace and the future of Ukraine. Onboard the ship, they held lectures, workshops, and dialogue sessions introducing Ukrainian history, politics, and culture.
Click for more about the content of the Ukrainian Youth Ambassadors programme.
During the voyage, the Youth Ambassadors shared their personal stories, giving heartfelt testimonies about witnessing the full-scale Russian military invasion firsthand, fleeing their homeland, and starting new lives as displaced persons in Japan. The way these young Ukrainians tell their stories sheds light on how young hearts and minds perceive the sudden disruption of a peaceful life and the outbreak of war in all its inhumanity. Their stories help us better understand how war profoundly alters the lives of young people, their families, and their friends when survival becomes the only goal. They also remind us of how fragile peace is and how much more we must do to protect and promote peace within our communities and around the world.
Download the collection of their experiences, testionies and reflections here:
Stories of Young Ukrainians from the War
