WHO WE ARE
YSP USA is a chapter of the International Association for Youth and Students for Peace which has active chapters in 50 plus countries. YSP is an NGO in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
YSP USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our Mission
“Creating a World of Peace by Living for Others”
..is to advance world peace by empowering youth and students to become global citizens through character education and peace projects supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals
“What if the next generation of young people, our future leaders, grew up with a global mindset where they think of others more than themselves? In essence, isn't this the heart that makes a hero? What if such "heroes" became business owners, educators, doctors, politicians, environmentalists and public service workers? Wouldn't this culture of heroes bring about sustainable peace in families, societies, nations and the world? The vision of Youth and Students for Peace is to create a culture of peace in every part of the world where it becomes a norm to seek the benefit of others even above myself.” —Dr. Robert Kittel, YSP International President.
Our Values
Responsibility | Integrity | Service | Empathy
YSP Peace Perspective
What is Peace?
Peace is typically understood as an absence of conflict or war. However, being in a static state of no conflict does not create true peace. Peace requires a dynamic relationship of harmony where two entities are working together in a mutually beneficial way. The driving force for harmony is the intention of living for the sake of others, or in short, love. Without love, there is no harmony, and there is no peace.
In YSP we have 3 main areas of peace that we focus on. The first is peace within ourselves, which is having harmony between our conscience and our actions. The second is peace with others, which involves building healthy relations with our family, our peers and our community. And the third is peace with our physical environment, which includes taking care of our home, our neighborhood, and the natural world.
YSP shares and applies this perspective of peace with young people through our character education programs and peace designer seminars. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society”. Through the character education we equip youth to practice good morals in all aspects of their lives, and through the Peace Projects we have them practice peace proactively in their communities through service. A culture of service and living for others is the key for sustainable peace. The more we can reach the youth with this message and training, the more we can secure a peaceful future.