From classrooms to digital spaces: Young Tanzanians promote peace

More than 400 young people gathered in Arusha to mark the International Day of Peace, concluding a series of activities that engaged youth in schools, communities and online in promoting peace and social cohesion.

Under the national theme, “Digital Voices for Peace: Empowering Youth as Champions of Stability and Resilience,” the commemoration focused on young people’s contributions to peacebuilding through digital content, dialogue and community participation.

Ahead of the ceremony, young members of Scout Tanzania presented a peace dove to the Guest of Honour, Joel Arthur Nanauka, Minister in the President’s Office responsible for Youth Development. The dove, which had accompanied participants in a peace walkathon two days earlier, was handed over as a symbolic declaration of International Day of Peace 2026.

United Nations Resident Coordinator Susan Ngongi Namondo joined the commemoration, alongside Arumeru District Commissioner Mwinyi Ahmed Mwinyi, who represented the Arusha Regional Commissioner.

Engaging young people in schools and digital spaces

The activities were coordinated by the National IDP Joint Task Force, co-chaired by the United Nations Information Centre, on behalf of the UN, and Global Peace Foundation Tanzania.

Beginning in August, educational outreach reached more than 2,000 young people in schools across Dar es Salaam, Coast, Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions. Discussions addressed peacebuilding, social cohesion, misinformation and harmful speech, bringing these issues into settings where young people learn and interact every day.

In early September, the Joint Task Force convened a Digital Peace workshop in Dar es Salaam. Young content creators explored how to produce content that supports peacebuilding, counters harmful narratives and contributes to more inclusive digital spaces.

These activities continued in Arusha on 19 September, when a peace walkathon brought young people together to share peace messages and encourage public participation in promoting peace. Tree planting also formed part of the activities ahead of the national commemoration.

Strengthening youth participation in peacebuilding

Two youth dialogues at the 21 September gathering provided opportunities to exchange experiences and discuss young people’s role in building peaceful communities.

The first engaged young content creators and digital influencers on using their platforms to encourage responsible dialogue and counter misinformation. The second focused on meaningful youth participation in peacebuilding, connecting community experiences with discussions about young people’s involvement in decisions that affect their lives.

With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), young people participating in the Dumisha Amani project joined the commemoration from six regions: Mwanza, Geita, Ruvuma (Songea), Kigoma, Mbeya and Songwe. Their participation brought experiences from local peacebuilding efforts into the national dialogue.

Partnerships supporting youth engagement

The commemoration and preceding activities brought together government, the United Nations, youth organizations, civil society and private sector partners.

Alongside the Joint Task Force’s co-chairs, partners included UNDP, the United Nations Association (UNA), the Youth of United Nations Association (YUNA), the Jane Goodall Institute and UN SACCOS. In-kind contributions from Geita Gold Mine, MSI Tanzania, African Scenic and Masailand Safari Lodge helped make the activities possible and supported young people’s participation.

From school outreach to digital content creation and community dialogue, the activities highlighted practical ways for young people to contribute to peace. They also underscored the importance of sustained opportunities for youth to participate in peacebuilding within their communities and beyond the annual commemoration.