17th Global Youth Peace Fest Starts with Slogan of ‘Harness Youth Power with International Partnerships’

Chandigarh, September 30, 2024: The 17th edition of annual Global Youth Peace Fest was inaugurated by Hargunjit Kaur, IAS, Secretary Finance & Tourism, Chandigarh Administration, at Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management, Sector 42, Chandigarh here today. People from different countries of the USA, Spain, The Netherlands, Bulgaria, Romania, Egypt, Mauritius, Malaysia, Nepal, India are participating. Prominent amongst those who were present included Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro Vice Chancellor, Chitkara University, Pramod Sharma, founder of Yuvsatta and Vishal Kalia, Principal of the CIHM, Chandigarh.

In the inaugural session, Hargunjit Kaur, IAS, also honoured twelve youth leaders from ten different countries with GYPF2024 Youth Leadership Awards. They were Vishal Kalia, Principal, Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management & Technology, Júlia Vilafranca, Department of OpenEurope, Spain, Jacqueline Kelleher & Haylee Blake of Helen Woodward Animal Centre, USA, Pravin and Dr. Loshseni of Seputeh Hindu Youth Organisation, Malaysia, Hemalatha Sri, Vice Principal, Velammal Group of Schools, Chennai, Chandraveer Lutchmun, President, Grand River South East Youth Circle, Mauritius, Anshika Ramdin & Nemraj Doomki of National Youth Council, Mauritius, Dr. Sangeeta Pant, Dean, Chitkara University, Punjab, Pawan Roy, Centre for Social Change, Nepal, Ajit Rajagopal of Ekta Parishad, Tamil Nadu and Laxman Gole, Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal, Maharashtra.

Sharing the idea behind the whole endeavour Pramod Sharma, founder of Yuvsatta said that today the world is home to the largest generation of young people in history, they constitute a high proportion of the population. As such, youth empowerment has become an important cross-cutting issue for peace, progress and prosperity in the world, which no single governmental or non-governmental organization can do. The annual Global Youth Peace Fest provides a platform for young people to network and work together with slogans of ‘Let’s do more’ and ‘Leave No One Behind’ .

Today, sessions on gender equality, international partnerships and human education for youth and others were organized with resource persons from Spain, USA and Bulgaria. The programme ended today first with a colourful ‘Nati-Folk Dance of Himachal Pradesh’, by CIHM students in which prominent dignitaries also participated along with foreign delegates. Later they all went for a nature walk and leisure time at Sukhna Lake

Appreciating the whole endeavour Hargunjit Kaur, IAS, said that by attending international conferences our Indian young people also acquire an unparalleled educational and hospitality experience. Dr. Madhu Chitkara gave the slogan of ‘Go Glokal’ by doing local actions of change and having a global mindset for a better and more humane world.

NOTE: GYPF2024 Major Programmes on October 1, 2024

At Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management, Sector 42D, Chandigarh

11.30 a.m.: Prize distribution of 2nd International Inter-School SDG Challenger Trophy by

Hon’ble S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly

05.30-06.00 p.m.: Close THE Gap-SDG5: Pink Turban Candlelight Vigil & Human Chain,

At Sector 17 Plaza, Chandigarh