One of my greatest reservations about international conferences, in general, is the fact that delegates show up, ready to throw solutions at each other, thinking they each have the best solution to a given international problem. However, the Peace Summit at the UN Conference Centre was unique; what positively surprised me and left a lasting impression on me was the fact that every single delegate at the Peace Summit attended with only the expectation of being exposed to other cultures, learning from others’ experiences, and collaborating on formulating ideas. All the delegates subjected themselves to openness in the best sense and allowed themselves to be immersed in this pot of cosmopolitan ideas.

It was exhilarating to see that all of the almost 400 delegates at the symposium could unite in a common conscience from biologists to psychiatrists to engineers and politicians. At the summit, all the delegates gave humanity priority; it was all about peace-buildings. At the end of the day, we all learnt that the differences across cultures only served as tools to enrich humanity with the ability to find better solutions as opposed to dividing us.

The Peace Summit was an experience that I would not hesitate to shout from the rooftops for all to hear; I highly recommend all eligible and promising young leaders to attend the event. I look forward to staying involved with Humanitarian Affairs and following the initiatives that spring out of the Peace Summit in years to come.