Peace Education Gathering Attracts Connecticut Students

The World Youth Peace Summit Office of Peace Projects will host a symposium on Saturday, March 10 at in West Hartford, from 1 to 5 p.m. This gathering will serve as the next step for participants of the as well as other high school peacebrokers to develop their Pathways to Peace Projects.

“This is the next step in Dan Doyle’s vision to create peace projects by youth around the world, a vision that was started right here in Hartford with the ,” said Tim Brennan, Chair of the Office and former Deputy Mayor of West Hartford.  “We also want to thank Kingswood Oxford for their great support of this initiative.”

The symposium’s schedule begins with an opening address by State Rep. Andrew Fleischmann.

Participants may then choose to attend any of the following sessions:

• Panel discussion featuring Connecticut candidates for the United States Congress and Senate, Chaired by Congressman John Larson. This panel will focus on each candidate’s view of ways to enhance world peace.
• Panel discussion and presentation on the Role of Women in Peace, Chaired by Senator Beth Bye and featuring Mims Butterworth, renowned peace advocate and lifelong resident of Greater Hartford.
• Panel discussion and presentation on the Role of Sport and the Arts in the Peace Process, Chaired by Dan Doyle, Founder of the World Youth Peace Summit.
• Panel discussion and presentation on helping the participating students formulate their peace projects, Chaired by Paz Magat, Deputy Director, World Youth Peace Summit.

The final gathering will feature a performance by Rob the Drummer, a nationally recognized motivational performer. Rob the Drummer was also the featured act at the Opening Ceremonies of the .  His performance received high acclaim from participants.

Students will be required to prepare for the symposium by preparing their Pathways to Peace idea and initial project plan. Attendees will include student groups from Hartford, Waterbury, and other cities and towns throughout Connecticut.

Brennan announced that the Center for Social Entrepreneurship would instead retain the name World Youth Peace Summit Office of Peace Projects. Stated Brennan, “With the wonderful new program opening at Wesleyan University bearing the name Center for Social Entrepreneurship, we felt it appropriate to retain our World Youth Peace Summit name to avoid confusion."

Brennan also noted that Paz Magat has earned a major distinction. Magat was recently accepted and  awarded a full academic scholarship to the Master’s Program in Community Change and Peacebuilding with Future Generations and the United States Institute of Peace. As one of 25 participants from around the world, Magat is the only representative of the U.S. Her studies include four one-month residential programs. She will convene with the distinguished group of students in India, Nepal, Peru, and the United States. The curriculum and degree will be great assets to Magat’s direction of the Office of Peace Projects. 

Brennan noted, “This is a tremendous plus for our efforts in Connecticut. Paz’s studies will be an extraordinary benefit to students from our State and for the development of peace curricula for students of all ages.”

The program on March 10 is open to Connecticut high school students at no charge. Teachers and students interested in attending may register with the World Youth Peace Summit Office of Special Projects at wyps@internationalsport.org. 

This information was provided in a news release from the Institute for International Sport.