- UNITAR held the final presentation session and closing ceremony of the FY2024 Youth Ambassador Programme in Hiroshima City on 22 November 2024.
- This programme aims to nurture high school students in Hiroshima to become future leaders in international peace and development and was conducted with the support of the Hiroshima Prefecture and Soroptimist International Hiroshima Chuo.
- Eight high school students from Hiroshima completed Phase 2 of the FY2024 Youth Ambassadors Programme and presented their individual action plans for peace at the closing ceremony.
- Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office, Shigeki Sasaki, Chair, Board of Directors, UNITAR Association, and other guests of honour shared words of encouragement to the Youth Ambassadors.
22 December 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - Eight Hiroshima Youth Ambassadors took their first steps as next-generation leaders aiming to abolish nuclear weapons and realize lasting peace as they completed the 2024 United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Hiroshima Youth Ambassador Programme . The Youth Ambassadors presented their action plans for peace at the closing ceremony, held on 22 December 2024 in Hiroshima City.
Cooperation for nuclear disarmament and peacebuilding for the next generation
The UNITAR Hiroshima Youth Ambassador Programme, run by UNITAR with the UNITAR Association, aims to nurture high school students in Hiroshima to become future leaders in international peace and development. Since 2010, the programme has supported over 160 high school students and youth mainly from the Hiroshima Prefecture.
With 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings, there is a greater need than ever for intergenerational cooperation to abolish nuclear weapons and achieve lasting peace. In the 2024 programme, which was supported by the Hiroshima Prefecture and Soroptimist International Hiroshima Chuo, 29 high school students from Hiroshima took part in the first phase (June to August 2024) and 8 continued on to the second phase (September to December 2024).
Youth Ambassadors' Presentation on their Learnings
At the closing ceremony, Youth Ambassadors reflected on what they had learned and presented their action plans for realizing peace. They each developed their own action plans (My Action Plans) for immediate implementation based on their learnings from Phase 1. In November this year, the youth ambassadors organized a public youth event, "Peace Journey", as an opportunity to put "My Action Plans" into practice, together with other youths in the local community.
"My Action Plans" featured concrete actions such as a city walk tour in Hiroshima to deepen awareness of peace by visiting A-Bomb survivor trees and a role-playing workshop to enhance understanding of the perspective of others. These presentations demonstrated the potential of the youth as leaders for the next generation.
Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office, Shigeki Sasaki, Chair, Board of Directors, UNITAR Association, and other guests of honour shared words of encouragement to the Youth Ambassadors.
I am truly delighted to witness how these Youth Ambassadors have been inspired and minds enriched through this programme. As we walk the same path of striving for sustainable peace and prosperity, I sincerely look forward to your continued efforts." - Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office.
I have gained profound insights from today's presentations. I sincerely hope that these young individuals will go out into the world and make significant contributions. I am confident that many young people will undoubtedly carry the message of peace from Hiroshima." - Shigeki Sasaki, Chair, Board of Directors, UNITAR Association.
Action towards Peace Starts Here
Through this programme, the Youth Ambassadors not only received training on peacebuilding and nuclear disarmament but also learned how to think and act independently - essential skills for peacebuilding leaders of the next generation. The Youth Ambassadors aspire to become a driving force in the movement towards a world free of nuclear weapons and hope their actions will spread action from Hiroshima to the world, so they may realize a peaceful future.
UNITAR and UNITAR Association will continue to work together to support the capacity-building of youth leaders who will relay activism for peace from Hiroshima to the world and to future generations.
About the UNITAR Hiroshima Youth Ambassador Programme
The UNITAR Hiroshima Youth Ambassador Programme started in 2010 with two high school students selected from within Hiroshima Prefecture, who conveyed the voices of Hiroshima's youth to the world. Leveraging the expertise of UNITAR, the program aims to foster skills related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global citizenship. It has since expanded to the Asia-Pacific region. For Japan, UNITAR Hiroshima Youth Ambassador Programme has provided training to over 160 students, primarily high school students from Hiroshima Prefecture.
About UNITAR
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a dedicated training arm of the United Nations. In 2023, UNITAR trained over 540,000 learners around the world to support their actions for a better future. UNITAR has a global presence, with offices in Geneva, Hiroshima, New York and Bonn and networks around the world.
UNITAR Division for Prosperity offers world-class learning and knowledge-sharing services to present and future change-makers from around the world. Through our innovative training and learning opportunities - built on robust adult learning principles - we seek to promote sustainable, inclusive and just economic development and catalyse the creation of decent employment opportunities for all.
UNITAR Division for Prosperity supports youth and women in particular to address growing inequalities. We work in solidarity with diverse partners at the local, regional and global levels to propel the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals and achieve an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous world.
