Echoes of Peace and Planet

Echoes of Peace and Planet is a space sharing words of compassion which promotes peace and harmony.

What gives a young leader confidence? Is it the work we do, the achievements we collect, or the people who choose to believe in us?

As I reflect on one of the most meaningful experiences of my life- attending the Earth Charter Youth Summit at Soka University of America in California. I realised that, for me, confidence has never come from titles or recognition. It has always come from the people who trusted my journey, often before I fully trusted myself.

July was an unforgettable month. In fact, the whole of 2026 has been full of surprises, opening doors I never imagined would open. Among them was my first visit to the United States, but this journey began much earlier. It started in 2019, when I travelled to Costa Rica to pursue my Master’s in International Peace Studies at the University for Peace. During that time, I met Dr Mirian Vilela , Executive Director of Earth Charter International. At the time, I didn’t realise that a single conversation would quietly change the direction of my life. Through the Earth Charter community, I became deeply interested in peace education and began exploring a question that has stayed with me ever since: Can climate action become a pathway to peacebuilding?

That question eventually became the foundation of Ecopeace Teen Cafe , which I founded in 2021. What started as an online space for dialogue has grown into a global learning community where young people explore the connections between peace, climate action, faith, and leadership.

Over the past five years, we have engaged hundreds of young people across 25 countries and four continents, encouraging them to take meaningful climate action within their own communities. Looking back, I realise that movements often begin with a simple question, but they grow because people believe in them.

Earlier this year, Dr. Mirian invited me to participate in the Earth Charter Youth Summit at Soka University of America. Beyond experiencing a beautiful campus and meeting over one hundred young leaders from twenty-nine countries, what inspired me most was how intentionally the organisers created space for youth leadership.

Young people were not invited simply to attend the summit—they designed sessions, facilitated conversations, moderated panels, and shared their own work. We often talk about meaningful youth participation, yet too often young people remain observers. At this summit, they were trusted to lead, and that trust transformed the entire experience. My sincere appreciation goes to Mirian Vilela María Sosa Segnini Nnaemeka Phil Eke-okocha Chloé Bernardino Anne catherine and the entire Earth Charter team for demonstrating what genuine intergenerational collaboration can look like.

One of the greatest honours for me was the opportunity to present the work of Ecopeace Teen Cafe, co-moderate a session, and speak in the plenary discussions. During my presentation on Using Earth Charter, I invited the audience to take part in a simple exercise. I asked them how many times they thought they could clap in thirty seconds. Most people guessed twenty, thirty, or perhaps fifty. When we actually tried, many of us managed more than seventy or even eighty claps. The exercise was never about counting claps. It was about recognising how often we underestimate our own potential. If we are capable of doing far more than we imagine in just thirty seconds, imagine what committed communities can accomplish over months and years. As the climate crisis continues to affect every part of our world, we cannot afford to underestimate our collective ability to create change. Hope is not passive; it is something we choose through action.

As the summit came to an end, I found myself reflecting on something unexpected. I am now in my thirties, yet spending three days surrounded by passionate Generation Z leaders filled me with hope. Listening to them speak about their communities, their innovations, and their dreams reminded me that they are not simply the leaders of tomorrow—they are already leading today. Their courage reassured me that the legacy of peacebuilding and climate action will continue long after our generation. That is what makes the Earth Charter such a powerful document. It is not simply a declaration written on paper; it is a living document that continues to evolve through the people who choose to live its values every day.

As I look back on this journey—from a conversation in Costa Rica in 2019 to standing on a stage in California in 2026—I return to the same question: What gives a young leader confidence? For me, the answer is clear. Confidence is not built alone. It grows through the people who trust us, challenge us, encourage us, and walk alongside us. To everyone who has believed in my journey and in the vision of Ecopeace Teen Cafe, thank you. Your trust has shaped my confidence, and together I hope we continue building a world that is more just, more sustainable, and more peaceful. Because the Earth Charter will continue to live for centuries—not through documents, but through people.