Tirana Welcomes Youth and Students for Peace

Report submitted by Jeong-hye Hassinen, Youth and Students for Peace Europe and Middle East director.

Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) Europe and Middle East (EUME) held their first international youth rally for peace on October 26 surrounding the Southeast Europe Peace Summit, and Family Festival & Peace Blessing in Tirana, Albania.

The youth rally was held at congress hall and was filled to the brim with over 2000 participants, including the vice mayor of Tirana, with some of the youth standing in the aisles!

Through S!NERGY more than 50 teams of high school and university students applied to present their peace project ideas at the rally. YSP Albania leaders selected five teams of high school students, and three university students to present their peace projects.

International President of YSP, Koji Matsuda, gave a wonderful keynote address and empowered the youth. YSP EMUE Director Jeong-hye Hassinen and her husband, Antto, gave a short speech about YSP’s vision as well as an introduction to S!NERGY.

The youth rally concluded with performances by well-known Albanian artists, and segued directly into the Peace Road event. Professors and students approached the YSP staff and thanked them for hosting such a moving event. Through this event, YSP created relationships with Albania University and the city of Tirana, and became an important organization for the youth in Albania.

During Victory Celebration, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, co-founder of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) mentioned how impressed she was with the efforts of the young people!

This international youth rally marked the beginning of YSP in the Southeast Europe region.