HWPL Hosts 2026 International Youth Peace Conference Online

 HWPL Hosts 2026 International Youth Peace Conference Online

Peace is often described as something that happens in conference halls and negotiating rooms. But for a growing number of young people around the world, it starts in their own neighborhoods, schools, and communities.

On October 10 at 10:00 PM KST, HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) brought those young people together online for the 2026 International Youth Peace Conference: Global Youth Leaders Taking Action for Peace and Human Rights.

Conference at a Glance

• What: 2026 International Youth Peace Conference, held online
• When: October 10, 10:00 PM KST
• Organizer: HWPL
• Theme: Global youth leaders taking action for peace and human rights
• Purpose: To share a year of youth peace activities and explore practical roles for young people in building peace

2026 Highlights by the Numbers

• 1,890 youth organizations working with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG)
• 133 countries covered by the IPYG network
• 500+ regular meetings of the Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Group (YEPW) this year
• ~12,000 youths from 89 countries who have taken part in the Youth Empowerment Peace Class (YEPC)
• 100 youth leaders from 40 countries who joined the HWPL International Youth Peace Program in Korea

Looking Back at the HWPL International Youth Peace Program

The conference opened with the key results of the HWPL International Youth Peace Program, held in South Korea from September 17 to 19. The program followed a three-stage process: Discover, Learn, Act.

Over three days, 100 youth leaders from 40 countries explored South Korea's cultural heritage, joined lectures and discussions, and took part in hands-on activities. The goal was to bring back what they learned and apply it in their own local communities.

A Growing Youth Network

Presenters also shared how far IPYG's network has expanded. IPYG now collaborates with 1,890 youth organizations in 133 countries.

Two programs stood out:

• YEPW (Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Group): Young people plan and carry out the peace activities their own communities need. The group held more than 500 regular meetings this year.
• YEPC (Youth Empowerment Peace Class): A non-formal peace education program that gives young people who lack educational opportunities a chance to learn about peace and put it into practice. About 12,000 youths from 89 countries have participated so far.

Voices From the Conference

Salif Bouné, founder of the Association of Pupils and Students from the Commune of Diaye Couras in Mali, said that hearing about people who have spent their careers traveling, meeting others voluntarily, and talking about peace was a real source of motivation for his group.

Siju Thomas Daniel, founder of the SCEAD Foundation India, said he wants to start making change from this conference onward, and that his aim is to get young people in his community to come forward and talk about world peace.

Ending With Light

The conference closed with a performance of music and light. Participants raised their phone lights or waved their hands along with the music, a simple way of showing, together and from many different places, that they want peace.

The host reminded everyone that one voice can feel small, but when voices grow into tens, hundreds, and thousands, they can become a force for real change.

Why It Matters

The conference showed young people moving beyond agreeing that peace is important. They are planning activities, running programs, and taking on roles as peacebuilders in their own regions. If that momentum continues, the results may show up where peace matters most: in local communities around the world.

Want to read more about the conference? You can find the original report on One Pulse Africa.