youth are generation now!
Photo credits: ⓒ Olivier Chamard for GPW 2025
On Monday, October 13th, 2025, I stood in front of an audience of peacebuilders– approximately 250 in-person, with more than 1200 joining online– to represent myself and the Peacebuilding Initiative at the High-Level Opening Ceremony of the 13th Annual Geneva Peace Week (GPW), Peace in Action. My name is Olivia, and I am a Master’s student at the Geneva Graduate Institute from Ontario, Canada. When asked in the late months of last Spring semester if I would be interested in presenting a Youth Statement as part of GPW, I enthusiastically agreed.
My degree focuses on Conflict, Peace, and Security Studies; within these topics, I investigate how to de-influence individual apathy and why greater attention is given to war over human-centered security. Within my studies and work experience, I am motivated to contribute to providing non-political, and thought-provoking platforms for global dialogue. These platforms, including the opportunity to engage with Geneva Peace Week, demonstrate that there is hope found in building bridges across divided societies, that dialogue is possible when democracy is in decline, and that peace can indeed be achieved, despite looming narratives that encourage us to believe otherwise. While these spaces may appear fleeting, they are alive in International Geneva, uniting multi-sectoral actors to seize this moment of systems-level change as a catalyst for positive action and renewal of global values.
The following text is my original speech, prepared for the Opening Ceremony. It is an urgent appeal addressed to the seasoned peacebuilders in attendance to provide youth with essential mentorship opportunities, and to recognise the immense power young people hold in forging meaningful and sustainable change. It is also my call for action and statement of encouragement for young people: remain persistent in the pursuit of knowledge, speak up against injustices when seen, and hold onto the unwavering curiosity with which we are all born.
Youth are Generation Now!
My name is Olivia, and I am a proud Canadian and President of the Peacebuilding Initiative at the Geneva Graduate Institute. I want to share three testimonies that highlight the power of youth in building a more inclusive, sustainable, and collective peace… to inspire us all to recognise that youth are key actors in peacebuilding architecture today.
Growing up, I was always involved in community-building activities. I joined Girl Guides, I danced in the local production of the Nutcracker, and sat on the Youth Council in Cambridge. One common and essential aspect of these character-shaping experiences is the element of mentorship.
At McGill University, I was matched with a seasoned professional in international security, giving me a transformative opportunity to ask hard-hitting questions on my academic and career development. This should not be unique to my experience as a young person. We need to expand our notion of mentorship for youth to succeed. Mentors provide youth with intergenerational knowledge, improve career outcomes, and help us see ourselves in spaces that might be difficult to reach. For the professionals in the room, I am calling on you to build a mentorship programme in your organisation, where young graduates can have these opportunities– you just might empower a young person to achieve their full potential.
Implementing programs for youth mentorship and empowerment recognises our roles as leaders of today, not just ‘leaders of the future’. An estimated 16% of the population is between 15 and 24 years of age, with this number projected to increase to 23% by 2030. That is why programmes such as the Youth, Policy, and Security Agenda and meaningful opportunities for young people to engage at every multilateral level are so important. We are all global citizens who need to tackle pressing issues together.
Peace is a shared responsibility, and it must include education, health, and the ability to form relationships without fear. These are the foundations of our humanity. It’s a responsibility for political leaders, activists, artists, educators, and community-shapers. Now is our moment to meaningfully integrate youth into the peacebuilding process and multilateral frameworks… not as tokens, but as trusted partners. Peace is possible, and it takes all of us to recognise this. Efforts must include country-based programmes for training of youth delegates, investments into education for current leaders, and providing spaces for children to become champions of global citizenship.
In closing, putting peace in action cannot be seen as an intangible, nor the task of a few particular actors or nations– it is a shared, urgent, and intergenerational responsibility. Youth are not just the promise of tomorrow; we are the power of today. Let us ensure that mentorship, meaningful inclusion, and sustained investment in young people are not the exception, but the norm. To be truly committed to building lasting peace, we must build it together, in equal partnership with young leaders… and we must start now.
Thank you.
Presented at the 13th Annual Geneva Peace Week High-Level Opening Ceremony: Peace in Action, by Olivia Katherine Bornyi ⓒ | Edited Version as of November 20th, 2025. Geneva Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Coordinating Team of GPW for their kind invitation, and my dear friends, family, colleagues at Interpeace, and all my mentors who have helped me along this journey.
Interested in getting in touch? I look forward to speaking with you!
Email: oliviak.bornyi@gmail.com
Linkedin: Olivia Bornyi
