Ukrainian Youth Ambassadors: Peace Mission on the American continents

After crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a six day stretch, the Ukrainian Youth Ambassadors (UYA) arrived at the American continents, the next stage in their journey around the world.  

New York City, United States

New York City, the first port of call in North America, provided significant opportunities for exchange and learning. On the first day in port, June 16, they joined together with members of the Peace Boat Hibakusha Programme and other youth travelling onboard to join a special walking tour hosted by representatives of the New York Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (NYCAN). These longtime peace and nuclear disarmament activists guided the group through various locations in Manhattan, explaining New York’s legacy with nuclear weapons: “building them, hosting them, and finally banning them.” It was an inspirational experience for UYA to learn how NYCAN and civil society groups campaigned for New York City to be declared a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone, which was realized in 2001 when the city adopted a resolution prohibiting the production, transport, storage, placement, and deployment of nuclear weapons within its territory.

The following day, a roundtable co-hosted with the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), at the office of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation in New York, gave the young peacebuilders an opportunity to speak directly with representatives of various Permanent Missions to the United Nations, namely Australia, Finland, Germany and Netherlands, as well as representatives of the Ukrainian Consulate in New York City and local Svitanok, a Ukrainian-American organization that focuses on ensuring United States support for Ukraine.

Youth Ambassadors Antonina Korotenko and Tetiana Vazhynska shared their personal war testimonies and their involvement in various activities to provide humanitarian aid to locally displaced people. “I saw a landscape full of total devastation and worst of all, destroyed lives. Soon I came to the conclusion that I cannot do much within Ukraine, so I decided to leave and support Ukraine from outside. This thought is what brought me to Japan and onto the Peace Boat”, said Antonina.

Sophia Demydenko, who has relatives in Russia and Belarus, addressed her appeal to the representatives of the UN Permanent Missions: “I want to ask you to consider using your influence to impact the public’s opinion within Russia, to make citizens of Russia realize the horrors their own government is committing and persuade Russians to turn against the politics of their government.”

The closed-door discussion was a chance to further share direct experiences and priorities of the young peacebuilders with policy makers, as well as for them to learn more about the different roles and procedures of various United Nations agencies and functions, challenges in the current Security Council system, and current perspectives within the international community. For the UYA, this was an occasion to appeal for more action to end the war in Ukraine, and for more support for civilian victims of war.

Cartagena, Colombia

In Cartagena, Colombia on June 23, the UYA met with local youth in an enriching exchange of personal experiences in dealing with armed conflict. Visits to the Mampuján Museum of Art and Memory, dedicated to remembering the victims of violent displacement by paramilitary groups and the Gabriel García Márquez exhibition at the Universidad de Cartagena gave the UYA initial insights on Colombian political history and peace activism.

Meeting with the teachers and students of the Masters in Social Conflict and Peacebuilding was an opportunity for the UYA to develop a profound understanding of the current situation in Colombia, and how peace studies can equip new peacebuilders in this country to work on more sustainable peace after years of armed conflict.

In exchange with youth leaders from Mi Sangre Foundation, the UYA shared their personal war experiences and discussed passionately with their partners about personal hopes for the future and how young people can have a more active role in making a peaceful future possible. Spontaneously, touched by UYA war stories and their families' separation, two Colombian students began to sing local songs about suffering in conflict and leaving one’s homeland, joined by all students in the hall.  "I was deeply moved by the mental strength of the students and their healing abilities through art and music. Inspired by their resilience I sang the Ukrainian song ‘Plyve kacha’ to express my sorrow and solidarity,” shared UYA Yuliia Chekhovska.

This encounter not only built bridges of understanding and compassion, but also fostered a strong sense of global solidarity among the youth.

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

The visit to Puntarenas, Costa Rica on June 27 highlighted many similarities with Japan/ Both countries have peace constitutions which renounce war, while Costa Rica makes a step further with its Article 12 stating that the country shall not maintain an army.

In collaboration with the United Nations University for Peace (UPEACE) and Mundo sin Guerra y Violencia (World without War and Violence), the event “A Global Journey with Peace Boat, Voices of Peace: Testimonies and Perspectives from Survivors” was organized at the Universidad Estatal a Distancia, Sede Universitaria Puntarenas (State Distance University, Puntarenas Campus).

After testimonies by the Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) also travelling onboard Peace Boat, the UYA shared their personal war stories and views on the current situation in Ukraine. This was a great opportunity for the Youth Ambassadors also to learn from their hosts how peace education as a part of formal curriculum can help new leaders and activists to explore innovative and effective ways to maintain international peace.

UYA Antonina Korotenko said: “I was very inspired by how adding a subject of peacebuilding and peace education to the curriculum can shape young minds and foster a culture of peace at the national level. It seems to me that such initiatives can play a crucial role in nurturing future leaders and activists. And that is why I would like to see more such examples among Ukrainian educational institutions.”

Thanks to the coordination of the Embassies of Costa Rica and Ukraine in Tokyo, the event was also attended by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Lydia María Peralta Cordero. The Vice Minister mentioned the relevance of this activity in the current context: “when war is back in the headlines of all media on a daily basis, it is increasingly important to make efforts to convince humanity that armed conflicts are a dead end". She also alluded to the pride and hope conveyed by this event, stating that "it shows that despite adversity there will always be people who, with their ideals and their will to live, are willing to work for peace".

Manzanillo, Mexico

In Manzanillo, Mexico on July 1, the Ukraine Youth Ambassadors UYA visited CONALEP School, known for its innovative methods in practical learning for technical and vocational education. They were welcomed by the school director Martha Alicia Oregon and around 80 students between 12 and 17 years old. The UYA shared their stories from the war in Ukraine and presented the highlights of their experience traveling with Peace Boat. Answering many questions from the students’ side, the day turned into a dynamic and intensive dialogue among youth. This exchange was supported by Subsecretary of Culture Lic. Javier Don Lucas Pelayo, representing Governor Mtra. Indira Vizcaíno Silva.

Following the event the UYA were invited by Lic. Javier Don Lucas for lunch in the restaurant run by his family, where he explained his life in Ukraine and return to Mexico. He lived in Ukraine for almost four years with his Ukrainian wife, Lesia, and their three-year-old son, Sasha. After Russia invaded Ukraine and Javier and his family lost everything they had, they decided to move to Mexico and start a new life in Manzanillo. The UYA, whose lives were also changed by war in every possible aspect, found many similarities between their personal experiences and Javier’s story and were strongly inspired by his optimism and resilience.

Seward, Alaska, United States

The final port of the 117th Global Voyage was Seward, Alaska on July 16, 2024. The Ukraine Youth Ambassadors, joined by participants in the Youth for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme also taking place onboard, were hosted by the Rotary Club of Seward for a luncheon meeting. The visit to exhibitions and facilities of the Sealife Center and talk to local environmental activists in Seward gave UYA an extraordinary insight into the effects of climate change in this part of the world and attempts by local scientists, activists and community members to preserve life in healthy and safe ocean waters.