Million Peacemakers

There are places that change the way you think. For anyone working in humanitarian action or peacebuilding, Solferino is one of those places. Standing where the suffering of a single battle inspired the creation of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a powerful reminder that one person’s response to human suffering can reshape the world. This week, Million Peacemakers had the privilege of contributing to that legacy by facilitating two Nonflict workshops. The first brought together remarkable young leaders from around the world, representing the future of humanitarian action. The second gathered lay and professional leaders from National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Spanning every corner of the globe, these dedicated individuals from China and Sudan to the Maldives, Seychelles, Saint Lucia, Malaysia and many more are united by a common commitment to humanity. I also left deeply grateful to two friends whose leadership was expressed not through speeches, but through presence. Xavier Castellanos Mosquera welcomed us into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC family with extraordinary warmth and generosity. You could feel the culture of volunteerism and humanity he has helped cultivate in every interaction, and we were privileged to experience it firsthand. And despite leading World YMCA at a time when preparations for its own global gathering are in full swing, Carlos Madjri Sanvee chose to spend the day with us, walking all 9 kilometres from Solferino to Castiglione in nearly 40°C heat. It was a simple but powerful reminder that leadership means showing up, sharing the journey, and standing alongside your partners, even when your own responsibilities are immense. One of the most moving moments was taking part in the Light the Darkness torchlight procession. Walking from Solferino to Castiglione, retracing the path of the women who carried wounded soldiers to safety after the battle of 1859, it was impossible not to reflect on how acts of compassion can echo across generations. I’m grateful to everyone who made these days so meaningful. Every time our coalition comes together, I’m reminded that what once felt ambitious is becoming increasingly achievable.

🌍 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤, 𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. World YMCA, together with the International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC, JA Worldwide, Million Peacemakers, and the Family Enterprise Foundation (FEF), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 24 April 2026 to support young people worldwide in making peace a daily habit. The Kofi Annan Foundation and Learning Planet Institute are also joining to shape this work going forward. At a time of rising conflict, polarisation, and division, this collaboration reflects a shared belief: lasting peace depends on how people live and interact with each other every day. Together, we are committing to: • 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 young people to see themselves as creators of peace • 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 them with practical tools to navigate conflict and build understanding • 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 youth-led action that strengthens trust and cooperation in communities This includes not only education and dialogue, but also the role of culture, through art, music, storytelling, and shared experiences, in shaping behaviours and social norms. Anchored in the YMCA Vision 2030 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳, which reflects our commitment to justice, peace, and inclusive communities, this work is already happening across diverse contexts. From supporting young people in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, Lebanon, and South Sudan, to peacebuilding and reconciliation programmes in Colombia, Roots for Peace initiative across Europe, and the Peace and Ecology Center in Korea, young people are building trust and fostering dialogue in their communities every day. This collaboration builds on what already exists, connecting and strengthening efforts across organisations and geographies to create greater coherence, shared learning, and scale. With 1.8 billion young people worldwide, most living in regions facing significant social, economic, and environmental pressures, this is not only a demographic reality but also a generational opportunity. Young people are already shaping how communities respond to division and uncertainty. Our role is to support them to do so constructively, inclusively, and at scale. This marks the beginning of a new phase, moving from collaboration to action in 2026 and beyond. Carlos Madjri Sanvee Kathleen Elsig Kayla Williams Jonathan Moyal Stephen Hecht #Peacebuilding #YMCA #YouthLeadership #JustWorld

What a thrill it was to give the opening address at the International Forum for Peace, Security & Prosperity in Palermo, Sicily alongside its founder Steve Gregory, MSM and Juan Carlos Sainz-Borgo, Vice Rector at University for Peace (UPEACE) - UN Mandated. The conference brought together over 350+ young people from military and civilian academies across more than 20 countries. I was inspired by their openness, their willingness to challenge assumptions, and their commitment to engaging across differences. It reinforced something I believe deeply: peace isn’t passive, it’s a skill. And this next generation is ready to practice it. At a time when so much of what we see and feel in the world points toward division, being there was a powerful reminder that another path is possible.

There was a lot of energy in Davos this week. Big conversations, big stages, and after Mark Carney’s speech, more than a few of us were carrying our Canadian passports a little higher. It was one of those moments that reminded you what principled leadership, grounded in responsibility and empathy, can sound like on a global stage. And still, choosing NOT to be in Davos turned out to be exactly the right call. Instead, we spent our time in Geneva doing what actually moves the work forward. Sitting together, unhurried. Sharing meals, laughter and trust. Creating the conditions for real alignment with partners who are deeply committed to young people and to building a more peaceful future. Grateful for the quality time and deep conversations with JA Worldwide, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC and World YMCA. These moments were a powerful reminder that progress and impact is not always driven from the loudest room. Often, it comes from choosing presence over pace, and relationships over rush. Geneva gave us exactly what we needed. Clarity. Connection. Momentum. Onward, together. Stephen Hecht Olivier de Richoufftz Cecilia Davalos Dr Amjad Mohamed Saleem (PhD) Xavier Castellanos Mosquera Bhupinder Tomar Carlos Madjri Sanvee Kathleen Elsig Asheesh Advani Tere Stouffer Sarah Rapp Million Peacemakers

Wonderful catching up with Senator Tony Loffreda. Thank you for your outstanding dedication to Montreal and Canada as well as your unwavering commitment to our work at Million Peacemakers. Looking forward to working together for many years to come.

During Geneva Peace Week 2025, the World YMCA convened global partners — the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), JA Worldwide, Million Peacemakers, and the Family Enterprise Foundation — to launch Generation Peace, a new alliance empowering young people to become peacemakers in their communities. Together, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩 250 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 — 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 3.5% 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 — 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 2035. Research shows that when 3.5 % of a population engages in constructive change, it becomes an unstoppable force for transformation. Upcoming milestones include the 𝐘𝐌𝐂𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 (2026) and the 𝐈𝐅𝐑𝐂 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 2028,where nations will reaffirm youth leadership in peacebuilding. Generation Peace integrates Million Peacemakers’ 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 and 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 to help young people and organisations apply empathy, communication, and collaboration in real-world challenges. Together, we are building Generation Peace — a global movement to equip 250 million young people with the mindset and skills to turn conflict into collaboration by 2035 — the tipping point where peace becomes unstoppable. 🌿 #GenerationPeace #YouthLeadership #YMCA #PeaceBuilding #3Point5Percent Carlos Madjri Sanvee Kathleen Elsig Stephen Hecht Jonathan Moyal Xavier Castellanos Mosquera Asheesh Advani Olivier de Richoufftz