Institutionalizing Youth Leadership: IPYG and NYCOM Conclude the 2026 Malawi YEPC
Sustainable national development and peacebuilding require shifting youth from passive recipients of aid into active co-stewards of governance. Marking a milestone in youth-led civic engagement, the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and the National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) successfully concluded the ‘2026 Youth Empowerment Peace Class (YEPC)’, which ran from May 28 to June 25.
The program directly aligns with ‘Malawi 2063’, the nation's long-term developmental vision emphasizing youth empowerment, civic participation, and social cohesion. Over 1,000 young leaders registered across Malawi, with a cumulative attendance of 1,005 participants in the live sessions, establishing a scalable model for state-NGO cooperation in peace education.
A Five-Part Curriculum: Bridging Heritage, AI, and Governance
The YEPC framework was systematically structured into five specialized modules designed to address modern societal challenges through both traditional values and future-oriented skills.
| Module | Core Subject | Strategic Educational Objectives |
| Sessions 1–3 | Heritage Education | • Exploring global cultural and religious traditions to foster mutual respect. • Examining peace as a 'living heritage' to be preserved and passed to future generations, drawing on historical peace precedents such as the Mindanao peace process. |
| Session 4 | AI Literacy for Peace | • Utilizing generative AI platforms (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok) as practical tools for peace advocates. • Emphasizing digital ethics, analytical thinking, and the core principle that technology serves merely as a tool guided by human intent. |
| Session 5 | Youth Leadership & Integration | • Connecting youth leadership with the framework of Malawi’s Peace and Unity Act of 2022. • Aligning local action with UN Security Council Resolution 2250 (UNSCR 2250) on Youth, Peace, and Security. |
Connecting Local Action to National Legislation
The final session was led by Alick Kampeza, a specialist in peacebuilding and social cohesion from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Kampeza, who contributed to establishing Malawi's National and District Peace and Unity Committees, emphasized the structural role youth play in mitigating conflict.
Linking IPYG's leadership curriculum with national governance challenges, Kampeza noted:
"Through this training, it was reaffirmed that young people are not merely beneficiaries of peace, but key agents in building peaceful, inclusive, and resilient communities. The collaboration between IPYG, NYCOM, and the Malawian government demonstrates the true value of international cooperation in youth empowerment."
Grassroots Impact and Future Expansion
Participants highlighted the transformative nature of the curriculum, noting how it broadened their understanding of cultural respect and civic responsibility. Juliana Paul, a student at the Malawi University of Science and Technology, reflected that the program allowed her to view cultural and religious diversity as a vital mechanism for achieving peace rather than a source of division.
Building on the success of the 2026 YEPC, NYCOM and IPYG announced plans to issue joint certificates to graduates and expand the initiative through offline channels. Future efforts include establishing Youth Peacebuilding Working Groups (YEPW) across universities and local communities, empowering graduates to design and execute localized, sustainable peace projects throughout Malawi.
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