A Weekend at the Kroc Institute for Peace Studies

HPI’s student Janneke Remick writes about her visit to the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at University of Notre Dame for the Student Peace Conference 2026

Beginning with stories, the way we see the world can shape our own approaches to peacebuilding. About three weeks before the “Notre Dame Student Peace Conference”, our peacebuilding after war class was asked if anyone wanted to attend. I quickly asked to go, noticing that the conference was completely student-led and youth-focused. This year’s theme was “New Games, New Peaces”, drawing shared their experiences studying abroad peacebuilding and conflict transformation from pop culture, games, and more that have informed individuals’ youth. More specifically, in a new globalized society, youth have mobilized new methods for peacebuilding in the overall game.

For instance, I was incredibly lucky to hear from and meet a group of students from Manchester University shared their experiences studying abroad in Nepal during the Gen Z revolution. In their time abroad, their group was able to interact with local youth and civil society organizations, deepening their overall understanding of the region and the root of conflict. Furthermore, they quickly adopted parts of their studies to capture the experiences of the student protesters. One of their slides Resonated with me the most; featuring local street art, the students captured commentary on the Gen Z revolution, “revolution is contagious.”

In addition, the “New Games, New Peaces” conference encouraged interdisciplinary dialogue and a variety of approaches to peacebuilding. Across discussions, youth agencies in peacebuilding became a central theme across panels in discussions, and the agency of students’ attendance at the conference as well! Providing an anchor to the overall conference, Dr. Siobhan McEvoy-Levy, professor of political science and peace and conflict studies at Butler University, gave an inspiring keynote speech. Highlighting youth in peacebuilding, she discussed how youth have never been stagnant agents within conflicts but have always been participating and are more recently viewed as actors within conflicts. Connecting to the overarching theme, “New Games New Peaces”, Dr. McEvoy-Levy states

“Youth have always been involved in both war and peace... However, they have been stereotyped as either lacking agency and being incapable or ‘uncredentialed’ to talk about war/peace, or as being the victims only; Or, they have been stereotyped as being combatants or those likely to be recruited and radicalized. In this way, they have also been instrumentalized, used as pieces in a global game of violence and domination.”

Youth have been the keystone to peacebuilding, bringing new capacities for social cohesion and new peace. As the Notre Dame student peace studies conference continues, I am excited to see the new youth who engage in the pursuit of peace and conflict transformation. I encourage all students to participate in this conference next year, sharing their own stories and unique peace.