Youth for Peace

How can young people work for peace in their everyday life? 

 ‘Peace’ can seem a daunting and intangible concept located in the realm of academia and global policies, with little practical relevance to our daily lives. Yet, young people across Australia are finding ways to incorporate peace into their daily lives, their social relationships and activism.

The aim of this panel is to challenge the misconceptions that the practice of peace is limited to those in high level international policy positions. This session seeks to offer practical guidance to young people wishing to participate in peace work in Australia and beyond, through a dialogue with other like-minded individuals.

This session will feature a panel of young people engaged in peacework and peace activism, who will bring together their experiences in practising peace in their everyday lives. The panel will be followed by a breakout session featuring group discussions with participants on how they are working for peace in their communities and how you can get involved. 

The panellists for the session are: 

Nengzheng Shi, a leading member of SGI

Nengzheng is a first-year PhD candidate at the University of Queensland whose research revolves around dialogue, nonviolent resistance, and discipline. He arrived on Australian shores in 2019 to pursue a Master’s of Peace and Conflict Studies, and proceeded to turn one of his essays into the PhD project that he now undertakes. As a member of the Soka Gakkai International Australia, a lay Buddhist organisation that promotes peace, culture, and education based on the humanistic philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism, he believes that a fundamental transformation within individuals themselves can lead through interpersonal dialogue to a profound transformation of human society.

Sakshi Sethi, a pioneer and driver of Intercultural Youth Dialogue in NSW

Sakshi Sethi is the pioneer and driver of Intercultural Youth Dialogue in NSW, a dialogue-based event with the purpose of promoting peace and friendship in the community. She is very passionate about connecting with different cultures and people of all backgrounds and experiences. As a member of the Soka Gakkai International Australia, a lay Buddhist organisation that promotes peace, culture, and education based on the humanistic philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism, she has a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of humanity and therefore believe dialogue is the key to achieving a peaceful world.

Noah Bedford, leading member of the Uluru Statement Youth Dialogue

Noah is a Wiradjuri man with strong connections to the Gumbaynggirr Nation where he was raised and continues to live. Currently, Noah is a grant manager in the Criminal Justice division of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, working to empower community-based organisations to address systemic injustice. Noah has previous experience in a number of public and private sector roles, including at the Australian Law Reform Commission, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Herbert Smith Freehills and McKinsey & Company. A founding member of the NSW Uluru Youth Network, Noah is soon to complete his Law Honours Thesis focusing on self-determination and a constitutionally enshrined voice to parliament, the first reform called for by the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Kishaya Delaney, leading member of the Uluru Statement Youth Dialogue

Kishaya is a proud Wiradjuri woman from Orange, New South Wales. She holds a Bachelor of Communication and Bachelor of Law with First Class Honours from the University of Newcastle. Kishaya is passionate about strengthening First Nations influence in policy and decision-making. Kishaya is a member of the NSW Uluru Youth Dialogues and attended the 2019 Youth Summit. Kishaya is currently working as a graduate at Herbert Smith Freehills and recently worked as a Project Officer at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, working on the Towards Truth project to build a database of historical laws and policies affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to support truth-telling processes called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Moderated by: 

Shay Pacetti, Masters student of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney

Shay holds a Masters degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sydney and is currently undertaking a second degree in counselling. Passionate about understanding humans, human and ecological trauma and new methodologies for healing, Shay is currently developing a peace building model that utilises plant medicine and psychedelic therapies to access and repair fragmentation. Working under the supervision and guidance of many leading organisations and experts in the psychedelic medicine sector, Shay’s research could join other successful models of bringing peace to both individuals and communities.

This event is hosted by Soka Gakkai International Australia (SGI), Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney and the Uluru Statement Youth Dialogue.

Tickets from: Eventbrite