Geneva, Switzerland – The Youth Center for Dialogue and Peace (YCDP) marked a major milestone last week with the successful conclusion of its first YCDP–UNITAR Immersion Programme at the United Nations in Geneva.
Held from July 21 to 25, the weeklong program brought together 30 young changemakers from Gangwon State, South Korea, for an in-depth exploration of global governance, diplomacy, and international cooperation.
Participants immersed themselves in the workings of the United Nations system, gaining firsthand experience of how multilateral institutions operate at the heart of global decision-making. The program—organized in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)—was designed to equip youth with essential diplomatic skills and foster a deeper understanding of the UN’s mission and principles.
Over the course of the week, participants took part in expert-led sessions and interactive workshops that covered:
- The structure and role of the UN and its specialized agencies
- The significance of International Geneva as a hub for multilateral diplomacy
- Core diplomatic skills such as negotiation, public speaking, and consensus-building
- Career pathways in international organizations
- The values and guiding principles of the UN Charter
The delegation also had the opportunity to engage with professionals from several Geneva-based UN bodies and agencies, including the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The YCDP–UNITAR Immersion Programme underscores the Youth Center’s commitment to empowering young leaders with the knowledge, skills, and global perspective necessary to promote dialogue, peace, and sustainable development on the world stage.
