International Youth Summit for Peace and Justice

Welcome to IYSPJ 2011!

Teachers from the University of Toronto in Canada and Rikkyo University & Teikyo High School in Tokyo, Japan and are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2011 International Youth Summit for Peace and Justice.

Notice: As a result of the recent earthquake here in Japan, we have postponed the starting date of this year's summit. Applications will now be accepted until May 31, 2011.

What: Young people from around the world will come together to form an online learning community to learn about and discuss issues of peace and social justice. Together, they will participate in one of Harvard University's most popular lecture series, as well as watch many other powerful lectures. Over the course of the summit, they will have their preconceptions of right and wrong tested as they discuss and debate the philosophical basis of justice and how it relates to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and the International Day of peace.

They will also collaborate with other young leaders to create innovative ways to share what they have learned with other youths around the world.  As a final project for the summit, the students will create a joint message to be delivered to the United Nations on September 21 in honor of the International Day of Peace.

Who: Successful applicants will. . .

• be aged 16-24

• have the ability to express themselves via video and/or text online

• be able to read, write, listen and speak in English at a college level

• be positive, outgoing, open-minded and hard working.

• have a strong desire to forge international relationships to make the world a more just and peaceful place

• be able to commit at least 2-3 hours per week to watching the video lectures and discussions with summit participants

When:  As a result of the recent earthquake here in Japan, we have postponed the starting date of this year's summit.  Applications for the 2011 International Youth Summit for Peace and Justice will be accepted until May 31, 2011. 

The summit will be take place from June 6 to September 21, 2011.

If for some reason, you cannot make an application video, please explain your circumstances and we may be able to make an exception for you.