Are you between 17 and 30 years old and want to build peace but don't know where to start?
Whether you have a single idea or a head full of plans to make the world a better place—PEACE LEADERS is for YOU! It guides you step by step, provides you with tools, provides coaches, and takes you on a journey to a place that symbolizes peace. Everything to make you a true peacemaker in service of our world. Do you want to take the leap from idea to action? Then this is your moment!
July 12, 2025: An international relay race for all ages with the goal of building a world of brotherhood.
education
action
travel
celebration
What:
A path of education, action, and celebration, enriched with an intercultural immersion journey, with the goal of helping young people become PEACE LEADERS in service of our world.
Who is it for?
Peace Leaders is for young people aged 17 to 30, from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, who want to make a difference. It's an inspiring and innovative program that demands commitment and active participation. By applying, the young person commits to attending the six sessions, led by coaches from various fields who provide support in developing a peace project within each work team.
Program Structure:
The program is built on four pillars:
How to participate:
To participate, each candidate must:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdn5XQ28MWQbJP9zTtg-RKtlkgedmFtT81HIGaXLgpapiFvKQ/viewform
Following selection, up to 5 projects will be chosen to develop further together. The selected young people will be notified before the first session on September 21, 2025, and will present their project to the group. Each participant will then choose the project to which he or she wishes to commit for the year 2025–2026.
Agenda:
In addition to the opening session (team building) and the closing event, the program includes:
General information:
The participation fee for the full program is €100, including travel. Is this amount a barrier to your participation? Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also strongly encourage you to find sponsors to support your commitment.
“Peace begins with EACH OF US.”
From February 16 to 20, 14 Peace Leaders had the opportunity to embark on a journey together to discover a way of life based on peace and fraternity in the “city of fraternity” Loppiano (Italy). These 14 selected young people want to “change the world and bring peace by creating initiatives that can renew society,” with a particular focus on political engagement. They were seven young Christians and seven Muslims, practicing and active in their faith, aged 16 to 26. They come from different cities in Belgium, from different schools and universities, all chosen to be part of the “Peace Leaders” project, a journey that began in September 2025 and which, during the trip to Loppiano, sought to provide a special moment of formation.
In Loppiano, they visited the Marian shrine “Theotokos,” Sophia University, and the agricultural cooperative. They also spent time with the musical groups Gen Rosso and Gen Verde. They participated in a workshop at the Bonfanti Business Park, which promotes a people-centered economy. They also traveled to Florence to meet with young people from the Giorgio La Pira International Center, which carries out projects with migrant students, and visited the Laboratorio Accademico Danza, which is very active, particularly in the Holy Land, on the themes of peace and dialogue. Through these different paths in art, economics, religion, sociology, and above all through concrete daily actions with and among the residents of Loppiano, these young people—seven Muslims and seven Christians—had the opportunity to reflect on their relationships with others, with themselves, and with God, and to contemplate what is important in their lives.
The Peace Leaders experience was truly one of the most powerful and moving experiences I have ever had. We weren't just talking about peace—we were embodying it. We were true leaders of peace, not in words, but in the way we lived each moment together. The way we were united—one heart, one mind—seemed almost magical, as if we had known each other for years. There was such a pure and powerful energy among us, full of love, respect, and authenticity. Despite our differences in age, background, culture, religion, and way of thinking, we remained united as one. We supported each other, listened to each other, and grew together. We truly became one family, one hand, moving in the same direction. Loppiano was the perfect place to have this experience. It is a place filled with peace—you can feel it in the air, in the people, in every corner. It gave us the space to open our hearts and live the values we believe in. This experience will remain engraved in my heart forever.
This stay in Loppiano did me a world of good. We were able to connect with the community, meet GEN ROSSO and GEN VERDE, talk with the teachers, talk with the residents and discover their way of life... and all this while being together from start to finish. The landscapes were magnificent, which made the atmosphere even more special. I also loved the fact that we were able to get to know each other even better, those of us who traveled together. We were always in a good mood, always laughing or sharing something. The visit to Florence was incredible. I really enjoyed visiting it with you, and I loved the moment when we all shared dinner at the restaurant. The atmosphere was incredible and very warm 🥰 I have such great memories of everything we experienced together. I'm leaving with a lot of gratitude and positive energy. Thank you for everything 🙏🙏
Dear Peace Leaders,
With this message, I would like to sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your trip to Loppiano. Thank you for all your efforts. You really did everything to make this trip possible, and I am deeply grateful to you. What made this trip particularly unforgettable for me were the people. The atmosphere, the feeling of connection, and the openness made Loppiano much more than just a place; it became an experience that I will carry with me forever. Living together, sharing meals, talking, laughing, and doing activities together showed me how beautiful it is to be truly connected to one another. I learned to step outside my comfort zone. It was difficult at times, but it was precisely in those moments that I grew the most. I learned to connect more easily with others and to communicate better, even with people who don't speak Dutch. Despite the language differences, we found ways to understand each other. I found that very special.
