• UNITAR held the final presentation session and closing ceremony of the FY2024 Youth Ambassador Programme in Hiroshima City on 22 November 2024.
• This programme aims to nurture high school students in Hiroshima to become future leaders in international peace and development and was conducted with the support of the Hiroshima Prefecture and Soroptimist International Hiroshima Chuo.
• Eight high school students from Hiroshima completed Phase 2 of the FY2024 Youth Ambassadors Programme and presented their individual action plans for peace at the closing ceremony.
• Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office, Shigeki Sasaki, Chair, Board of Directors, UNITAR Association, and other guests of honour shared words of encouragement to the Youth Ambassadors.

At the closing ceremony, Youth Ambassadors reflected on what they had learned and presented their action plans for realizing peace. They each developed their own action plans (My Action Plans) for immediate implementation based on their learnings from Phase 1. In November this year, the youth ambassadors organized a public youth event, “Peace Journey”, as an opportunity to put “My Action Plans” into practice, together with other youths in the local community.

“My Action Plans” featured concrete actions such as a city walk tour in Hiroshima to deepen awareness of peace by visiting A-Bomb survivor trees and a role-playing workshop to enhance understanding of the perspective of others. These presentations demonstrated the potential of the youth as leaders for the next generation.

Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office, Shigeki Sasaki, Chair, Board of Directors, UNITAR Association, and other guests of honour shared words of encouragement to the Youth Ambassadors.

I am truly delighted to witness how these Youth Ambassadors have been inspired and minds enriched through this programme. As we walk the same path of striving for sustainable peace and prosperity, I sincerely look forward to your continued efforts." — Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office.

I have gained profound insights from today’s presentations. I sincerely hope that these young individuals will go out into the world and make significant contributions. I am confident that many young people will undoubtedly carry the message of peace from Hiroshima." — Shigeki Sasaki, Chair, Board of Directors, UNITAR Association.

Through this programme, the Youth Ambassadors not only received training on peacebuilding and nuclear disarmament but also learned how to think and act independently – essential skills for peacebuilding leaders of the next generation. The Youth Ambassadors aspire to become a driving force in the movement towards a world free of nuclear weapons and hope their actions will spread action from Hiroshima to the world, so they may realize a peaceful future.

UNITAR and UNITAR Association will continue to work together to support the capacity-building of youth leaders who will relay activism for peace from Hiroshima to the world and to future generations.