"Living Peace International" is a peace education project launched by Carlos Palma during the Arab Spring in Egypt.
Originally from Uruguay, Carlos worked for several years as a lecturer at the American College in Cairo. Through dialogue with his students, both Christian and Muslim, the idea for "Living Peace" was born. Since its founding 12 years ago, Living Peace has spread remarkably quickly across four continents. Approximately one million children and young people worldwide have contact with Living Peace International.
This has earned Carlos several awards, including an honorary doctorate in peace education from the University of Madrid in 2022. The Living Peace International office is located in Rome.
For more information, please contact:
Dannie Van Werde - dannie.vanwerde@skynet.be - 0479 19 63 09
Ton Jongstra - tonjongstra@gmail.com - 0476 90 32 49
“Solidarity in Action: An International Experience for Peace”
From April 24th to 27th, 2025, we were delighted to participate, together with Eloan Degive, a young person involved in the Give Peace a Hand project, in the international congress of Peace Ambassadors and Young Leaders entitled “Solidarity in Action”.
The first day consisted of a fascinating scientific symposium dedicated to the educational impact of the Living Peace project, which is based on three pillars: the peace die, Time Out (a moment of silence for peace), and the 6X1 method (6 steps to peace)—an educational tool at the heart of Living Peace International.
We discovered research and experiments conducted at various educational levels: preschool, secondary school, and university. Keynote speakers included Professor Glaucya Maria Lino, a member of Living Peace's scientific committee, and Marcelo Pardo, as well as Professor José Luis Cabezas Casado from the University of Granada (Spain), who highlighted initiatives based on intergenerational solidarity.
The following three days brought together young peace leaders from 32 countries for a program that was as dense as it was inspiring. Several round tables gave the floor to organizations that are concretely committed to peace, such as AISA (International Sufi Alawiyya Association), the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inter Faith Network and Teens for Unity.
Many young people from around the world shared their stories of peace and engagement. Eloan Degive took the opportunity to share his experiences with the Give Peace a Hand program, which he has been participating in for two years. His testimony highlighted the civic engagement of young people in Belgium.
We also participated in several interactive workshops, including a presentation on the MILONGA project, an international volunteer program designed to give young people aged 18 to 35 a true experience of peace and brotherhood. This initiative offers significant intercultural immersion and develops essential human skills in young people: empathy, collaboration, active listening, and more.
One of the highlights of the conference was a festive intercultural evening where each delegation shared the dances, songs, and traditions of their country—a true celebration of diversity and unity.
The Congress concluded with a moving ceremony: 30 young people from around the world were appointed new ambassadors for peace by the Cercle Universel des Ambassadeurs de Paix (France-Switzerland), in the presence of its president, Madame Gabrielle Simond.
These four intense days forged deep bonds between young people from different cultures, driven by the same desire: to build peace, here and now, through concrete acts of solidarity. It was an unforgettable adventure, full of hope and renewed commitment.
