GPLP Fellows Capacity Building Workshop session one
The Global Peacebuilders Leadership Program (GPLP) implemented by the Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nepal in Kathmandu is a values-driven youth leadership initiative designed to equip young people with practical skills, ethical grounding, and real-world exposure to peacebuilding models. In January 2026, the program brought together fellows, volunteers, and youth participants for structured capacity-building sessions centered on personal development, community engagement, and service-based leadership.
At its core, the program strengthens character formation while advancing social cohesion through dialogue, reflection, and action. It integrates leadership development with practical tools for emotional resilience, community conflict transformation, and responsible citizenship. Through interactive workshops and peer-led facilitation, participants are empowered to translate learning into meaningful impact within their families and communities.
Throughout the month, participants engaged in five key capacity-building sessions covering stress awareness and inner peace, self-reflection and ethical leadership, social responsibility, safeguarding principles, and lessons from Colombia’s grassroots peacebuilding model. These sessions were designed to nurture both personal growth and collective responsibility.
GPLP Fellows Capacity Building Workshop session three
During the session on self-awareness and leadership, fellows reflected deeply on their values, accountability, and influence as young leaders. Participants emphasized that transformation begins internally before it can effectively shape external realities. As one fellow shared, personal reflection strengthened her commitment to lead with integrity and compassion.
Emotional resilience was another major focus. In the stress management session, participants explored how stress affects mental and physical well-being and learned practical tools such as mindfulness practices, self-acceptance, and conscious emotional regulation. Fellows expressed that understanding stress as a natural response and learning how to manage it enhanced their ability to remain calm and constructive in challenging situations.
Sessions also examined fairness, dignity, and protection of children as core responsibilities of leadership. Participants explored how words, attitudes, and systems influence inclusiveness and safety in schools and communities. Through practical discussions and demonstrations, they gained insight into child safeguarding mechanisms and community-based structures that support youth participation and protection.
A key highlight was the session on community-level peacebuilding led by Juan Camilo Mora Gonzalez, who shared insights from Colombia’s experience of conflict transformation. He illustrated how trust-building, dialogue, and locally driven solutions have played a critical role in addressing long-standing conflict. Participants reflected on how these lessons can be adapted to their own contexts.
Group photo from the community-level peacebuilding session led by Juan Camilo Mora Gonzalez
“Listening to the Colombian peacebuilding experience helped me understand how communities can solve conflicts from within. I realized that trust, dialogue, and local leadership are key, and I feel motivated to encourage similar approaches in my own community to prevent violence and strengthen unity,” Anju Tiwari, GPLP fellow, shared.
“The session showed me that sustainable peace is not imposed from outside but built together. By learning how local initiatives and all participation work in Colombia, I now see the importance of listening, collaborating, and taking small but meaningful steps to resolve conflicts where I live,” added Rajan Tamang, another GPLP fellow.
Across the program, 119 participants took part, including 10 GPLP fellows and youth leaders. The outcomes demonstrate measurable growth in confidence, awareness, and practical leadership skills. Participants developed stronger emotional regulation, deeper respect for dignity and diversity, and a clearer understanding of dialogue-based conflict resolution. They were encouraged to apply these principles within their families as role models and extend them into schools and community spaces through service initiatives.
Looking ahead, sustaining and expanding initiatives like this requires collective support. We invite partners, supporters, and champions of youth leadership to join us in strengthening and scaling programs that nurture moral character, innovative thinking, and service-driven leadership among young people worldwide. Your contribution enables the Global Peace Foundation to continue equipping youth with the values, skills, and opportunities they need to become ethical leaders and active peacebuilders in their communities. Donate today to invest in a generation committed to lasting peace and positive transformation.
Through shared commitment and generosity, we can ensure that values-based leadership programs continue to grow and reach more young people, fostering stronger families, resilient communities, and sustainable peace across nations.
