Two international initiatives taking place this year offer a glimpse into how young people across the world are becoming protagonists of peace through creativity, community action and care for our common home. Both are part of the wider experience of Living Peace International, a global educational project inspired by the spirituality of unity and the “art of loving” of Chiara Lubich.
Founded in 2012, Living Peace International has grown into a worldwide network involving millions of children and young people in over 130 countries, promoting a culture of peace, fraternity and active citizenship through simple, concrete actions. At its heart is a conviction: peace is not an abstract idea, but something to be lived daily, in relationships, in schools, and in society.
Caring for Creation: International Plogging Week
From 20 April to 1 May 2026, communities around the world are invited to take part in International Plogging Week, combining physical activity with environmental care. Participants walk or jog while collecting litter, transforming a simple gesture into a shared act of responsibility.
More than just a clean-up effort, the initiative encourages participants to reflect on the causes of environmental degradation and to propose concrete solutions. In this way, it reflects one of the key dimensions of Living Peace: learning by doing, and becoming agents of change in one’s own local context.
Linked with Earth Day, the initiative also highlights the strong connection between peace and care for creation. Environmental responsibility is not separate from peacebuilding—it is an essential part of it.
Creativity for Peace: Peace Pals International Art Exhibition
Alongside this, the Peace Pals International Art Exhibition & Awards 2026 invites children and young people to express the theme “Together in Peace” through art.
Art has always been a powerful tool within the Living Peace journey. By drawing, painting, and creating, young people are encouraged to reflect on how peace is built in everyday life through gestures of kindness, listening, and solidarity. As the project emphasises, even small acts can contribute to a more fraternal world.
The deadline for submission of entries is 31st August. Winners will be announced on Global Peace Pole Day (22 November 2026).
Full details and how to participate: https://peacepalsinternational.org/2026-art-contest/
A Global Network of Peace
What unites these initiatives is not only their focus on young people, but their belonging to a wider global network. Living Peace International connects schools, communities, and organisations across cultures and religions, creating spaces where experiences, ideas, and actions can be shared.
Through simple practices—like the “Dice of Peace,” moments of reflection, artistic expression, and community action—participants learn to live peace concretely in daily life. These small actions, multiplied across the world, become a powerful force for transformation.
At a time marked by conflict, environmental crisis, and fragmentation, these initiatives remind us that peace can be built—step by step, relationship by relationship, and generation by generation.