On 24 November 2024, the Soka Movement in France held a youth festival on peacebuilding at the Soka Buddhist Center in Trets, in the southeast of the country, bringing together more than 1,300 young people from across France. The event served as a platform for exchanges, creativity and collective reflection on building a more peaceful and united world.

A wide range of activities provided participants with opportunities to engage with the theme of peace, express themselves and connect with one another. They contributed to the creation of a fresco, with each individual crafting their vision of peace, and took part in a nature walk to explore biodiversity and climate issues. Writing and reflection workshops provided a space for thoughtful expression on peace, while interactive games encouraged cooperation and dialogue in an engaging way. One participant commented, “To reconnect with people, to find people who smile, and, above all, come together around the same theme, which is peace—that’s what this day is about!”

A roundtable discussion titled “Youth and Peace—Turning Conviction into Action” brought together Jean-Marie Collin, Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) France; Mariane Pearl, award-winning journalist and author; diversity consultant Marie-Lou Dulac; expert in energy transition Myriam Maestroni; and dancer and choreographer Soleïla Chaou to explore concrete actions for peacebuilding. 

Addressing the young audience, Pearl emphasized that while times, desires and people change, one thing must remain constant—faith in their ability to create a better world. Acknowledging how easy it is to become discouraged, she said, “Believing in your abilities and nurturing them is the number one act of resistance, in my opinion,” and further urged, “Action comes from decision. It’s about breaking free from inertia and helplessness. I challenge you all to leave here with a decision for peace!” Collin expressed his appreciation for the gathering, remarking, “This morning, I got up at around 4:50 a.m.—because I thought to myself, there are 1,300 young people who want to talk about peace, and that is incredibly positive.” His words underscored the power of youth engagement and the impact of collective action in shaping a more peaceful world.

Several associations dedicated to peacebuilding were also present, each bringing unique perspectives and initiatives to the “association village.” Among them was Coexister, an organization that empowers young people to build social cohesion through dialogue, community service and educational initiatives. In an exchange on dialogue between young people with different religious convictions, Lara Euchin, Vice President of Coexister, outlined two principles: dialogue participants should speak for themselves, not on behalf of a group, and they should agree to disagree. The goal, she said, is not to convince, but for both parties to better understand themselves and each other.

Representatives from the SGI Office for UN Affairs and ICAN were also part of the association village, contributing to the discussions on global peace efforts. Jean-Marie Collin of ICAN reflected on the journey toward the signing of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). “Hope,” he said, “was our goal when we launched the campaign in 2007.” After stating that on July 7, 2017, 122 countries signed the treaty, he concluded, “All great changes start with a small group of people.”

The exhibition “Everything You Treasure—For a World Free From Nuclear Weapons,”  jointly created by ICAN and SGI, was also on display. Alongside this, artistic performances throughout the event—featuring music, dance and theater—reinforced the message that peacebuilding is not only about dialogue and action but also about creativity and shared purpose.