Peace Jam is an international organisation and its mission is to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves and their communities. The Peace Jam programme consists of three components – Education, Inspiration and Action. It encourages young people to learn through volunteering and social action. This is exactly what happened at the Peace Jam Slam held at CATCH on Saturday , November 16 with follow up sessions throughout November and December. The theme was HOPE : Helping Others and Promoting Encouragement. The event was led by Rotarian mentors and Peace Jam colleagues.
Below are comments from some of the young participants :
On Saturday, I took part in a Peace Jam Slam event that focused on building community, hope and raising awareness about other topics like hidden disabilities. There were a lot of fun, meaningful activities throughout the day, like a scavenger hunt that got us working as a team. We also played team games that helped us improve communication with people we might not usually speak to. (Most of us really enjoyed making the tree). The whole event gave me a deeper understanding of how important it is to support others. I had a great time and loved the sense of community everyone had, especially the mentors and staff. Overall, I felt so welcomed and it was a really fun and meaningful day. I’d love to take part again and would definitely recommend it to all young people that are interested!
Participant A, Y12
A very fun and interactive day that included a diverse range of activities that got us to learn about the CATCH as a place and as a community, and workshops that focussed around the theme of hope. The community there was welcoming and free from bias, with so many different people from so many different places that have experienced so many different things all together under peace and hope. It taught me that I should also be open-minded and welcoming. I would absolutely attend another event, no matter the size, and I recommend you should too.
Participant B, Y12
I really enjoyed my experience at peace jam. I found it really refreshing to see such a wholesome and genuine group of people come together to work and talk about “hope” and community. I left the event feeling really uplifted and I would love to go to another event. I would strongly recommend peace jam to any young person who feels they want to make a difference of wants to be involved in making a difference in the world or even just if you are passionate about social change.
Participant C, Y12
On Saturday, I embarked on a journey to Leeds to attend peace jam conference, i had the opportunity to attend an event called Peace Jam in Leeds. The journey there was quite interesting and set the tone for what turned out to be a truly enlightening experience. At Peace Jam, I engaged in various activities aimed at promoting a sense of community and personal growth among the youth. Throughout the day, I forged new friendships with like-minded individuals and took part in workshops that emphasized the importance of discouraging drug use among young people. The event also provided us with delicious meals, including breakfast and lunch, which fostered a welcoming and inclusive environment. In addition, I participated in a variety of workshops designed to help improve essential skills such as writing and creativity. Overall, Peace Jam was an incredible opportunity that allowed me to connect with others, develop valuable life skills, and engage in meaningful discussions about creating a brighter future for our generation.
Participant D, Y12
My experience at Peace Jam. The day was centred around hope and how to spread it. Located at the catch youth group in Harehills, Leeds, it was very much about the local area but also did touch on the wider world. Throughout the day, there were various activities based upon how to create hope and what it would take to create said hope. What I enjoyed most about the day was the feeling that the local kids that took part got a real sense of hope for the world. I would definitely recommend Peace Jam for those looking to make a difference in the world.
Participant E, Y12
My experience at peace jam was a fantastic one; When I saw the program of peace jam, I saw that it was an event tailored to empower youths, and make them future leaders. And i also saw that we will be tutored my Nobel prize winners, so I felt it would be a long event where we will just have to sit in one place from morning till evening, then go home after.
But the program beat my expectations, it was a totality of fun, excitement and education all mixed up. Yes we were tutored by great mentors which was fun, but was more exciting with all the activities put together, they made learning fun.
I may not be able to breakdown every activity that happened, but what I can sure say is that, anyone who attends that event will tell you the same story. It’s not a program to miss, And if another opportunity comes, I will attend the event again and again.
Participant D, Y12