🌿 Youth for Peace Quarterly Newsletter
Centre for Development Action
Vol. 1 | Issue 2 | July 2025
Connecting Youth Voices for Peace in South Asia (India • Bangladesh • Sri Lanka)
✨ From the Editor’s Desk
Dear Readers,
It gives us immense joy to welcome you to the very first edition of the *Youth for Peace Quarterly Newsletter*. This platform is created to highlight the courage, creativity, and leadership of young people across South Asia who are stepping forward to build peace in their communities.
In India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, young people face daily challenges—from rising intolerance and climate crises to lingering effects of past conflicts. Yet, time and again, youth are proving that they are not just the leaders of tomorrow but the changemakers of today.
This newsletter will bring you inspiring stories of youth-led initiatives, practical tools for peacebuilding, and opportunities to connect and collaborate across borders. We hope it becomes both a mirror and a window—a mirror to reflect the courage of youth in our own communities, and a window to learn from the experiences of our neighbors.
Let us walk together on this journey of peace, one story at a time.
Warm regards,
*Editorial Team, Youth for Peace*
Centre for Development Action
🌍 Regional Highlights
🇮🇳 India: Youth Leading Interfaith Dialogue in Odisha
[Insert Image Placeholder Here: Interfaith Dialogue Event]
In the heart of Bhubaneswar, 25 energetic youth leaders recently came together under the banner of “Voices of Harmony”. Their mission was simple yet profound: to create spaces where students from Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities could meet, share stories, and understand one another better.
The program included street theatre performances on the dangers of prejudice, mural painting that depicted unity in diversity, and open dialogue sessions where young people could talk about their experiences of identity and difference.
The results were powerful. Barriers of misunderstanding began to fall, and participants left with renewed confidence in their ability to build bridges.
“We learned that small acts—like listening without judgment—can heal divisions.” – Ankita, 19, Odisha
🇧🇩 Bangladesh: Climate Action for Peace in Khulna
[Insert Image Placeholder Here: Mangrove Plantation]
In the coastal city of Khulna, young people are turning the fight against climate change into a fight for peace. The rising seas and frequent cyclones here have forced many families to migrate, leading to competition over land and resources. Recognizing this link between environment and conflict, a group of young volunteers launched the “Green Peace Clubs” across 10 schools.
The clubs combine environmental protection with peace education. Students plant mangrove trees to protect shorelines, organize debates on climate justice, and host rallies urging government and local authorities to integrate youth voices in climate policies.
Their efforts show that protecting the environment can also prevent conflicts before they arise.
“When we protect nature, we protect peace. Climate justice is peace justice.” – Rahim, 21, Khulna
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: Healing Through Arts in Jaffna
[Insert Image Placeholder Here: Art & Music Workshop]
The wounds of civil conflict in Sri Lanka are still felt deeply, especially in the northern city of Jaffna. Yet here too, youth are proving that creativity is a bridge to reconciliation. Through the project “Beats for Peace”, over 300 young people from Tamil, Sinhalese, and Muslim communities came together to co-create art, music, and dance performances that speak of healing and unity.
Workshops in theatre and storytelling allowed participants to share their personal experiences of conflict and recovery. Public art exhibitions displayed paintings and photographs created collaboratively by youth who once lived divided by mistrust. The final stage performance—featuring drums, dance, and spoken word poetry—was attended by over 1,000 community members.
“Art helps us express what words cannot. Together, we paint peace, sing peace, and dance peace.” – Shalini, 20, Jaffna
🛠️ Tools & Resources for Youth
• Peace Action Toolkit – A step-by-step guide to starting a peace project in your community.
• Digital Campaign Guide – Practical tips on how to use social media responsibly to spread peace messages and counter hate speech.
• Peer Mediation Handbook – A simple guide for schools and colleges to train students as peer mediators.
👉 All resources are available for download at: www.cda.org/resources
🌐 Opportunities & Engagement
• Call for Peace Ambassadors 2025 – Apply now to represent your community in the South Asia Youth Peace Network.
• Online Training on Youth, Peace, and Security – A free interactive e-learning course beginning September 2025.
• Youth Exchange Program – An upcoming cross-border dialogue bringing together young leaders from India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
📢 Get Involved
This newsletter is only as strong as the voices it carries. We invite you—our readers—to be part of this growing community.
Do you have a peace story to share? An artwork or poem that speaks of harmony? Or an idea for a community initiative that deserves attention?
📧 Send your contributions to youth4peace@cda.org
Stay connected with us on social media for daily updates, opportunities, and inspirational content:
🌐 Website | 📱 Facebook | 🐦 Twitter | 🎥 YouTube
🌸 Closing Note
Peace is not the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice, dignity, and compassion. Each day, young people in South Asia are showing that peace is not a distant dream but a daily practice—rooted in dialogue, nurtured by creativity, and sustained by courage.
As we close this first edition, let us carry forward the words of Shalini from Jaffna: “Together, we paint peace.”
With hope and solidarity,
*Youth for Peace Team*