Provide Urgent Covid-19 Relief for 3,000 UK Youth

Three years ago, this project was started to support young people in the UK affected by Covid-19, and the subsequent issues that emerged in their lives and communities. Since then, with the support of our GlobalGiving donors, we have raised nearly £5,500 and delivered mentor training, near-peer-led workshops and facilitated the creation of multiple youth-led social action projects across the UK. Empowering youth and enabling them to embrace 'Generation Change' over 'Generation Covid'. Thank you for making this possible. 

“I will try my best to understand about other people’s and the world's problems, and try my best to make a positive difference.”13 year old Student.

 “I have learned how to engage people in conversation through activities”. 22 year old PeaceJam Mentor. 

However, we are currently seeing increasing conflict and tension in communities, produced not just by the long-term impact of Covid but also issues such as those surrounding toxic masculinity on the internet, the refugee crisis in Europe, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The list goes on. These current global and local issues and the impact it is having on communities is causing uncertainty, apathy and conflict for young people. 

The summer of 2024 saw the most significant disorder in the UK since the 2011 riots. Between 30th July and 7th August, approximately 29 anti-immigration demonstrations and riots took place across 27 towns and cities in the UK. By the 30th of August 1,280 people had been arrested for their involvement. Yet it was highlighted in multiple court cases that the youth involved, the youngest a 12-year-old boy, were “simply wanting to belong to something”. 

As a direct response we will be looking at closing this successful Generation Change project in the coming month and we will be launching our ‘Be the Change’ project. This project has evolved from our Generation Change work to better encompass and support the wide range of challenges that today’s youth face. This year-long ‘Be the Change’ programme will be available to schools and youth groups and begins with workshops that let them express their anxieties and interests, before learning strategies to overcome challenges, and then supports them to devise and run a social change project of their own choosing. This project will still harness the powerful near-peer experience that takes place between university students and youth. We will be training university students to become mentors and deliver these workshops for young people aged 11-18. 

“In a world of seemingly continuous suffering and conflict, it is easy to forget about what actions of Peace have been made and what can be made. This is why I have taken an interest in PeaceJam as I hope to be able to transition from wanting/thinking about making a difference and actually trying to. In talking to Luke and Fay it was really inspiring to see two people talk so passionately about Peace and about encouraging young people to take action for social justice. We were provided with valuable and clear insight as to what to do with our interests and how to funnel our ideas into actual action.” 17 year old Student.

This would not have been possible without your support and, together, we hope to throw a party this GivingTuesday, on the 3rd of December, to celebrate all of the hard work and community support that helped make Generation Change possible. We want to give the floor to you and our fellow PeaceJam community members to share your highlights from the project and have some well-deserved fun. We'll be offering prizes, running fun activities and an exciting launch party for our ‘Be the Change’ project.

But we need your help! Use the form here to tell us how you want to celebrate this achievement and if you want to be involved in our day of activities or PeaceJam Launch Party. You can already register for our PeaceJam Launch Party by clicking the link here to RSVP! It will be from 6 to 7:30 pm on the 3rd December.

We cannot thank you enough for making the last three years possible. YOU have made a difference and changed the lives of youth across the UK. We are so excited to work together with you and our PeaceJam community to launch our new project on our day of celebrations. With your support we will provide a solution to community friction and apathy and kick start 2025 with youth leading the way to be the change.