PDWC 2027 will be held online, making it possible for more young people to take part, including those who may find international travel difficult. We are also reaching out to young people in regions affected by conflict and social instability, with the hope of welcoming them to PDWC as well.

At the heart of PDWC is the opportunity for young people from different countries and cultures to meet as peers, get to know one another, and form friendships. Their backgrounds and everyday lives may be very different, but through debate, dialogue, and shared activities, they can listen to different perspectives, better understand one another, and discover what they have in common.

We believe that friendships formed across these differences can be a step toward building a more peaceful world. When young people from regions affected by conflict or displacement join us, participants will also have opportunities beforehand to learn about the history and social context of those regions. The aim is not simply to learn about events happening elsewhere in the world, but to meet people of the same generation whose experiences may be very different from their own, and to explore those realities together through debate and dialogue.

PDWC is also an opportunity for participants to discover something about themselves. Meeting, talking, and working with peers from around the world can help young people recognize their own strengths and begin to see themselves as leaders. In the years that follow, they may choose to return as Youth Ambassadors, supporting new participants and continuing to grow through taking on new roles and responsibilities.