How Youth Are Spreading Peace Conversations Across Europe — HWPL & IPYG at Talent for Good Forum 2026

 How Youth Are Spreading Peace Conversations Across Europe — HWPL & IPYG at Talent for Good Forum 2026

June 2026 | Peace Advocacy | International NGO

What does it take to build a more peaceful world? For HWPL and IPYG, the answer starts with a single conversation.

On June 6–7, 2026, the Netherlands chapters of HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) and IPYG (International Peace Youth Group) joined 61 organizations at the Talent for Good Forum 2026, held at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. What unfolded was a powerful demonstration of how grassroots peace dialogue can make an impact on a global stage.

What Is the Talent for Good Forum?

The Talent for Good Forum is an annual gathering co-hosted by The Hague Humanity Hub and The Hague University of Applied Sciences. It brings together students, young professionals, educational institutions, NGOs, and international organizations to explore careers that create social value and address pressing global challenges.

This year, 61 organizations participated — a testament to the growing appetite among the next generation for work that truly matters.

Among the notable speakers were:

• Ric Lawson, Director of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights
• Emma Bedner, Chair of the Council of Europe's Advisory Council on Youth
• Marieke van Iperen, CEO of Settly

Their discussions centered on building trust, the evolving role of civil society, and how individuals can contribute to meaningful international cooperation.

HWPL and IPYG at the Forum: Sharing Peace Talk

HWPL and IPYG Netherlands set up an exhibition booth at the Talent for Good Fair, a dedicated expo area within the forum. Their focus? Introducing Peace Talk — a citizen dialogue platform that has been actively running across the Netherlands throughout early 2026.

What Is Peace Talk?

Peace Talk is a structured dialogue program where citizens from diverse backgrounds come together to discuss peace, social issues, and global challenges. It's not a lecture or a seminar — it's a genuine conversation. The goal is to foster mutual understanding and strengthen civic engagement through open, respectful exchange.

Visitors at the booth were drawn to the concept. In an era of increasing polarization, the idea that ordinary people can contribute to peace simply by sitting down and talking resonated with many of the young professionals and students in attendance.

Why the "City of Peace" Is the Perfect Setting

The Hague is no ordinary city. As home to the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and dozens of international organizations, it is widely regarded as the world's legal capital and a hub for peace and justice.

Holding this kind of peace dialogue event in The Hague sends a clear message: peace is not just the work of governments and courts. It begins with people — with youth, with students, with anyone willing to engage.

One Korea Peace Camp: A Bridge Between Nations

One of the most conversation-generating highlights at the HWPL/IPYG booth was the announcement of the upcoming One Korea Peace Camp, an international peace and cultural exchange program scheduled to take place in Korea this September 2026.

The camp drew strong interest from attendees passionate about international dialogue and peace initiatives. For many young people in the Netherlands and across Europe, it represents a rare opportunity to engage directly with peacebuilding efforts at an intercultural, grassroots level.

Beyond the Booth: Engaging in Workshops and Legal Dialogue

HWPL and IPYG didn't limit their participation to the exhibition floor. They also took part in workshop sessions and panel discussions throughout the forum.

One standout session was led by Prof. Kushtrim Istrefi, Associate Professor of International Public Law and Human Rights Law at Utrecht University. The session examined how international law sustains trust and cooperation in an increasingly complex global environment — a topic deeply aligned with HWPL's long-standing work on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).

What This Means for the Peace Movement

Events like the Talent for Good Forum matter because they place peace at the center of career conversations. When young people see NGOs like HWPL and IPYG operating alongside international institutions and universities, it normalizes the idea that building peace is a legitimate, impactful career path.

HWPL's representative reflected on the event: the forum became a meaningful platform to strengthen engagement with diverse stakeholders and expand dialogue on peace, civic participation, and international cooperation.

This is exactly what the peace movement needs — more visibility, more dialogue, and more young people asking: "How can I be part of this?"

About HWPL and IPYG

HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) is an international peace NGO working to achieve sustainable world peace through legislation, interfaith dialogue, and peace education. HWPL is affiliated with the UN DGC (Department of Global Communications) and the UN ECOSOC.

IPYG (International Peace Youth Group) is HWPL's global youth wing, mobilizing young people around the world to become active participants in peace advocacy, cultural exchange, and community dialogue.

Together, they operate in over 100 countries, running programs that connect individuals across borders through shared values of peace and human dignity.

Get Involved

Peace is not built in boardrooms alone. It is built in conversations — in forums, in classrooms, in community halls, and yes, in exhibition booths at university campuses in The Hague.

If you are interested in joining a Peace Talk session, attending the One Korea Peace Camp in September 2026, or learning more about how HWPL and IPYG are working toward a more peaceful world, take the first step: start the conversation.

"Peace begins where dialogue begins."

This post was written based on the following news report:

Kim Jang-su, "HWPL·IPYG Netherlands Participates in 'Talent for Good Forum 2026'... Spreading Peace Dialogue," Point Daily, June 8, 2026. 

Original article (Korean): https://www.pointdaily.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=307487