While the world typically views young people as either victims or villains in conflict, we recognize their potential to drive change and transform conflict in their communities.
Our Children and Youth programs employ an innovative, multi-pronged approach, incorporating elements of education, grassroots action, partnerships, and policy. Our initiatives range in topic from civic participation to youth-focused media, leadership training, and sports clinics. In all of our youth projects, we help young people prove to the world that they are changemakers and leaders for peace.
Our work to improve international policy and practice for youth participation in peace and security is guided by young people around the world and supported by the Children and Youth division.
Children & Youth Resources
From Content Creators to Peacebuilders
Most people assume social media is the problem. That platforms are too powerful, algorithms too manipulative, and young people too far gone to resist the pull of misinformation and outrage. But our team in Kenya knows something different. The same platforms spreading harmful narratives can spread something better. And the…
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From Challenges to Change
Fatoumata Cissé, a visually impaired young woman from Mopti, Mali, grew up in a community where young women are often discouraged from participating in associative or NGO activities and are encouraged instead to focus on housework. Fatoumata, however, has dreams and passions, and there was a time when she felt…
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The Nigerian Youth Collective Action for Religious Engagement Project Success Stories
The Nigerian Youth Collective Action for Religious Engagement (Youth CARE) Project, implemented by Search for Common Ground in partnership with Young Leaders Network (YLN), empowers young people in Bauchi, Plateau, and Gombe States to promote interreligious tolerance and freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). The project focuses on capacity-building, trust-building,…
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Daring to Dream: Young Girls Rising from Conflict Through the Youth-Talk Project
In the corners of Mangateen Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, where dreams often disappear, dried by the hot sun of Juba in South Sudan, and rain floods, a young woman once sold groundnuts, water, and snacks to survive. This is the story of Nyakang Madier’s unwavering determination. Before becoming a…
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Becoming a Peace Ambassador
For Hussein Mohammed, a 16-year-old living in the slums of Tudor Moroto, Mombasa, where large families squeeze into a 36 square foot space and the river rising equates to a flooded home, life has always been a blend of challenges and resilience. Growing up in a polygamous family with 13…
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Transforming Lives in South Kordofan – Economic Empowerment for Conflict Transformation
We’re working to empower youth and women in South Kordofan by providing training, supporting small businesses, and creating income opportunities. We aim to help them build a better future, strengthen their resilience, and contribute to lasting peace in their communities. In the heart of South Kordofan, where conflict and economic…
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Youth Talk: Kenya, Mali and South Sudan Success Stories
Discover powerful stories of young people from diverse backgrounds who have overcome adversity and transformed their lives through media, education, and leadership training. From Hussein in Kenya, who found his voice through youth journalism, to Fatoumata in Mali, who defied societal expectations, and Mamadou, who escaped the realities of descent-based…
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A Season of Hope: Returning Magic to the Border
In Mexico, at the border, the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are still felt deeply, even four years later. While some scars, like economic rebuilding and job losses, are visible, others remain heartbreakingly hidden. One of the most devastating marks is the rising suicide rate among children and teens.…
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A Blanket of Warmth: Spreading Hope in Ciudad Juarez
The holiday season stirs a tapestry of emotions—joy in reuniting with family, nostalgia for loved ones no longer with us, the anticipation of gifts, and perhaps a touch of melancholy for goals left unmet. While traditions may differ across countries and cultures, one thing often remains constant: the comfort of…
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Youth for Humanity: Engaging Youth to Promote Religious Freedom in Pakistan
Search for Common Ground, in collaboration with the Shaoor Foundation for Education and Awareness (SFEA) and Pakistan Research Institute for Sustainable Media (PRISM), implemented the project “Youth for Humanity: Engaging Youth to Promote Religious Freedom in Pakistan” from September 2020 to June 2023 in Karachi and Lahore. The project aimed…
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