“What If - Spesterra” entrants attend workshop to facilitate intergenerational dialogue on filmmaking to commemorate the International Day of Peace

On 21 September 2021, the #Youth4Disarmament initiative held a virtual workshop with entrants of the “What If - Spesterra” Youth Video Challenge to mark the International Day of Peace.

The participants were joined by two of the judges of the “What If - Spesterra” Youth Video Challenge, Ms. Kasha Sequoia Slavner and Mr. Robert Frye, to facilitate an intergenerational dialogue on filmmaking.

Participants showcased their video submissions with the group, sharing their motivations behind the submissions and their perspectives on the role of art to engage and educate youth on disarmament issues.

Both the judges and attendants provided feedback and comments on the submissions, further discussing the use of art to capture and express the young filmmakers’ unique visions of what the world would look like if more money was spent on peace and less on arms.

Mr. John Ennis, Chief ad interim of the Regional Disarmament and Information Outreach Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, provided closing remarks for the event, congratulating and commending the entrants on their video submissions.

The discussions worked in harmony with the 2021 theme for the International Day of Peace, “recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world”, with attendants sharing their use of artistic talents to engage and educate young people on the diverse ways in which disarmament can contribute to establishing a safer, more peaceful world.

In the preceding workshop with the winners of the “What If – Spesterra” Youth Video Challenge on 8 September 2021, three youth forum participants, Mr. Olamide Samuel, Ms. Jamie Withorne and Ms. He Manjiang shared their perspectives and insights on the role of young people in advancing the disarmament agenda and their experiences of the Youth Forum on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.

The session contributed to implementing the Seoul Youth Declaration for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, by facilitating youth-inclusive and youth-led disarmament education. The Seoul Youth Declaration for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation was adopted in June 2021 during the Youth Forum on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, attended by 25 youth forum participants from around the world.

The session also provided an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and provided a platform to build collaborative partnerships between the youth forum participants and winners of the “What If Spesterra” Youth Video Challenge.

The winners and their selected pieces will be revealed during a congratulatory side-event during the First Committee in October. Be sure to check back for more information to see the winning works and to learn how to attend the event!

Check out the dedicated webpages to learn more about the “What If - Spesterra” Youth Video Challenge and the Youth Forum on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.

Visit the dedicated webpage to learn more about the International Day of Peace.