Students arrive at the Global Youth Forum in Chicago. Nearly 250 students from the U.S. and abroad attended the forum, which is held every year.

The week was an opportunity for students to hear from important individuals working for world peace. Pictured here are Mary Eisenhower, CEO/President of People to People International and granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

USIP designed a program where delegates role-played as members of non-governmental organizations. Delegates extensively researched the work of their organizations and designed posters that described their group’s work on child soldiers, particularly in Uganda, which was the context for this program.

Delegates act as representatives of the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network.

Jimmie Briggs, activist and author of Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War speaks to delegates about child soldiers.

During the week, delegates explored issues of peace and conflict in the context of child soldiers. Here, the delegates focus on sources of conflict.

Delegates working in an NGO team explore the issue of child soldiers with a focus on Uganda.

Joseph Sany, from USIP/S&B Consultants, leads students in an African folk song.

Delegates participate in an NGO fair, which provided an opportunity for delegates to share their work with one another.

The Care International delegation discuss the work of their NGO at the NGO fair.

David Smith facilitates the All Party Conference, the culminating event where delegates participated in a two-hour simulation that allowed delegates to develop a strategy to reintegrate former child soldiers in Uganda.

Delegates participating in the All Party Conference as NGO representatives explore options for the reintegration of child soldiers in Uganda.

Photos from
USIP Participates in Global Youth Forum in Chicago
November 7-11, 2007
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