Summary
Organization name
PeaceJam Foundation
1996
Tax id (EIN)
84-1349666
Category
Youth Development
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
The Posner Center for International Development 1031 33rd StDenver, CO 80205
Jefferson County, CO, US
The Mission of the PeaceJam Foundation is to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of 14 Nobel Peace Laureates.
Testimonials
"Possibly the best school club my kid ever attended. EVERY school should have one!! Nothing more powerful than kids, teachers, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates coming together in action!!"
"One of the best when it comes to nonprofits with a mission. Where else can one find a passion for connecting kids and community with the wisdom of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates? The stories of these incredible people move and inspire us to take a good look at our communities and take the steps toward embracing differences and creating acts of peace. It is here where we find Real Peace, in the sense of proactive participation."
Mission
The Mission of the PeaceJam Foundation is to create a new generation of young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of 14 Nobel Peace Laureates who pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody.
Background Statement
PeaceJam is a year-long educational program for youthaged 5-25. PeaceJam is the only organization in the world that has fourteen Nobel Peace Laureates working together for a common cause - our children.
The PeaceJam Foundation launched in February 1996 in Colorado by co-founders Dawn Engle and Ivan Suvanjieff. Suvanjieff conceived of the idea for PeaceJam in the summer of 1994 when talking to some youth involved in gangs in his neighborhood in North Denver. He discovered that these youth not only knew who Archbishop Desmond Tutu was, they appreciated his nonviolent efforts toward social change. As an artist, Suvanjieff merely connected the dots and realized the power of connecting these disaffected youth with Nobel Peace Laureates, as new role models for positive change.
Dawn Engle's spent her early career years working in the U.S. Congress, lobbying on behalf of the Tibetan Cause. Throughout her tenure, Dawn had the privilege of meeting and establishing a relationship with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Engle and Suvanjieff were granted an audience with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, who liked the idea. His Holiness the Dalai Lama suggested that the duo bring in other Nobel Peace Laureates. Engle and Suvanjieff discovered that the majority of Nobel Peace Laureates were interested in the idea of peace education for youth, yet they were tied to their individual peace efforts and did not have time to act on this concept themselves. PeaceJam was able to provide the Nobel Peace Laureates with a programmatic vehicle for working together to teach peace to the youth of the world.
Since the PeaceJam program was launched in March of 1996, more than 1.3 young people worldwide have participated in the program. Through the PeaceJam program, more than three million new service projects have been developed and implemented, and thousands of new volunteer opportunities for youth have been created. PeaceJam has programs across the United States and across Europe, Africa, and Central America. Members of the PeaceJam Foundation include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, The Dalai Lama, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, President Oscar Arias, Tawakkol Karman, Jody Williams, Sir Joseph Rotblat, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Jose Ramos-Horta, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Betty Williams, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Leymah Gbowee, Kailash Satyarthi and Shirin Ebadi.
Media gallery
Organization Data
Denver, CO 80205