S-CAR Undergraduate Students Present at the United Nation's General Assembly
On Friday, September 16, 2016, eight undergraduate students from the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution presented at the United Nation’s International Day of Peace Student Observance. The Student Observance brought hundreds of students from across the United States and around the world to hear from distinguished speakers and celebrate peacebuilding.
S-CAR’s undergraduate students had the honor of being selected to present on a new project called The Displaced Youth Education Initiative (DYEI). Students from all around the world submitted proposals that outlined a project that supports peace in the community, drawing on the Sustainable Development Goals. Our students were one of only six other student presenter groups at the Observance.
DYEI is a student-led initiative that seeks to support formerly displaced persons in the Northern Virginia area. DYEI will partner with Mason student groups and community organizations to hold a donation drive to provide basic necessities, such as school supplies and household items, establish a student-led mentorship program for high-school-aged students, and create an awareness campaign that highlights the challenges that displaced people face.
Students enjoyed presentations from UN Messengers Leonardo DiCaprio, Stevie Wonder, and Nobel Laureates Tawakkol Karman and Leyma Gbowee, whom many students had studied in their conflict courses. They even had a chance to hear from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. “Peace is not a gift, it is something we must work for,” said the Secretary-General. Without a doubt, these students are ready to work for peace.