“With young people, the most important thing is passion. You have to be passionate about the future you want to create. If you don’t have passion, you don’t have ownership. If you don’t have ownership, you’re not going to make that dream something that motivates and animates your life.”
Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon
Global Youth Summit Philippines
Youth leadership development plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of nations, particularly in countries like Tanzania, India, Mongolia, and Nigeria, where large youth populations face significant socio-economic challenges. These challenges, if not addressed, can lead to increased unemployment, social unrest, and poverty. However, with the right initiatives, young people can become a driving force for economic growth, peacebuilding, and social cohesion. The Global Peace Foundation (GPF) has recognized the importance of empowering youth through moral and innovative leadership training, entrepreneurial development, and social engagement. Their programs across these countries aim to nurture youth into proactive leaders committed to positive societal transformation.
The following is a summary of recent activities of the Global Peace Foundation and its values-based approach to peacebuilding.
Tanzania’s Youth Bulge: Opportunities and Challenges
Tanzania, as with many developing nations, faces a “youth bulge,” with nearly one-third of the population under the age of 35, according to the 2022 national census. This demographic represents both significant potential and daunting challenges. On one hand, young people can drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic dynamism. On the other, they place immense pressure on the country’s infrastructure, education systems, and healthcare services.
Key challenges faced by Tanzanian youth include income insecurity, where few graduates secure formal sector jobs, and poor education quality, particularly in rural areas. Many young people drop out of school due to factors like poverty, early marriages, and limited opportunities. Additionally, health issues, such as mental health problems, malaria, and reproductive health challenges, are rampant, with limited access to treatment.
Social problems such as gender-based violence, child marriages, and teenage pregnancies further exacerbate these challenges, leading to increased poverty, rising crime rates, and political apathy among the youth. One critical issue is the underrepresentation of youth in decision-making roles at both the national and local levels, which hinders effective policy development and perpetuates a cycle of disempowerment.
To address these issues, GPF Tanzania has initiated programs to empower youth with the tools they need for personal and professional growth. In 2024, GPF organized an event on International Youth Day in Mtwara, focusing on the role of youth in peacebuilding and digital technology for economic empowerment. The event, which attracted over 1,500 youth participants, underscored the importance of digital literacy and responsible technology use in fostering economic growth, particularly in areas like agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and artificial intelligence (AI).
While technology presents vast opportunities for economic development, it also carries risks like cyberbullying and misinformation, which can disrupt communities. GPF’s goal is to help Tanzanian youth harness the power of digital tools to advance peace and social change while promoting responsible use and critical thinking.
Peacebuilding and Leadership in India and Beyond: The Global Peace Foundation’s Approach
On a broader scale, GPF is deeply invested in peacebuilding and leadership development for youth, aiming to create a generation of leaders committed to unity, peace, and sustainable development. An example of this is the Peacebuilding Leadership Training workshop held in September 2024. The workshop brought together approximately 100 students from diverse fields, including nursing, business, and medical sciences, to explore the role of youth in peacebuilding.
The training focused on developing leadership skills rooted in empathy, active listening, and interfaith cooperation. The chairman of GPF India inspired participants by discussing the crucial role of youth in fostering peace and the concept of a “peace army” envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi. The workshop included meditation, interfaith dialogue, and community service, encouraging students to integrate these values into their professional and personal lives.
One key outcome of the workshop was the launch of Youth Peace Clubs, designed to keep participants engaged in ongoing peacebuilding activities. The event emphasized the need for young people to be proactive in addressing global challenges such as conflict, inequality, and climate change.
Youth Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship: NIYED Program in Nigeria
Entrepreneurship is another essential avenue for youth empowerment, particularly in addressing unemployment and underemployment—two critical challenges faced by young people in many countries. In Nigeria, where a large percentage of youth struggle to find meaningful employment, the Global Peace Foundation (GPF) has partnered with organizations like Besouro Social Development Agency to run the Nigerian Youths Entrepreneurship for Development (NIYED) program.
Launched in July 2024, the NIYED program is a three-month virtual training initiative aimed at young Nigerians aged 18-30 who have either started a business or have an idea for one. The program provides theoretical content and practical skills across ten training sessions, focusing on areas like business planning, branding, marketing, and the use of digital tools for business development. The program also emphasizes mentorship and community service, encouraging participants to integrate social responsibility into their entrepreneurial ventures.
More than 60 young Nigerians from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds participated in the first phase of the program, which culminated in the creation of actionable business plans. A key element of the program was the one-on-one mentorship, which helped participants navigate the challenges of starting and growing businesses.
Conclusion: A Vision for Global Peace and Prosperity
The youth in Tanzania, India, Mongolia, and Nigeria represent a vast and untapped reservoir of potential. With the right investments in education, technology, peacebuilding, and entrepreneurship, they can become powerful agents of change, driving not only economic growth but also social cohesion and global peace.
Initiatives like GPF’s programs in these countries are crucial in equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to navigate the complexities of the modern world. By promoting leadership, entrepreneurship, and community service, these programs are laying the groundwork for a more peaceful, prosperous, and connected future, where young people from all backgrounds can work together for the common good and build One Family under God. GPF’s work shows that empowering youth isn’t just about teaching them how to succeed—it’s about inspiring them to lead with compassion, integrity, and a commitment to a better world.
The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God. GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peacebuilding models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation. Read more about GPF’s Youth Leadership Development efforts.