Peace seems to have become an exceedingly rare commodity this millennium. Amidst the growing conflict in the world, it is important to remember and reflect that cessation of war is not peace. Every country has a fabric of multi-cultural societies living beside each other, speaking different languages, subscribing to different faiths, and economic needs and needing different community baskets. Dominating monocultures through religion, ideology and patriarchy necessity cause repressions that result in structural violence in society. Moreover, globalisation through consumerism, propagating a uniform world order is threatening the very survival of the fragile earth. Plurality, Multiculturalism and Equality are the basic tenets essential for nurturing a peaceful and humane world order. The Samiti in association with the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE), the People's Institute for Development and Training (PIDT), and United Nations Volunteers organised the IA VE World Youth Conference from November 9-14, 2006. Over 300 young participants from almost forty nations including India, Australia, Afghanistan, Korea, Sweden, Spain, Taiwan, Nigeria, Kenya, and Hong Kong participated in the Conference.

The World Youth Conference held at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat (9-10 November) included a wide range of issues, from commercialization of every form of art and production, increasing consumerism, degrading environment to other complex issues.

The following was the Declaration adopted at the Youth Conference :

Dr. Silva from Global Youth Service Day, USA making a presentation

Today the world is hungering for peace. Violence, in its myriad forms, is consuming peace and development. Internecine clashes between communities, religions, ethnic groups and other sectarian forces are resulting in unimaginable trauma for large population across the world. The need of the hour is to work and volunteer towards evolving a culture of non-violence, tolerance, mutual understanding, solidarity and the ability to solve disputes and conflicts peacefully. For evolving such a culture of peace and non-violence in multicultural societies, the youth have a major role to play. They can volunteer to transform the society and join to say 'no' to violence.

The IAVE World Youth Conference 2006 organized in the backdrop of WO years of Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha (non-violent action centering around truth), reiterates the need to encourage youth volunteer action for peace in multicultural societies. On 9-10, November 2006, over 300 youth from 21 countries around the world came together to discuss at length, their key concerns and how to address these issues as volunteers.

The findings and recommendations of the conference were:

Volunteering for Peace, Harmony and Non-violent Action

A delegate from •South 'Korea speaking at the plenary session of the IAVE 'World Youth  Conference organized at Gjanahi 'Darshan,

• Encourage volunteering at the individual, family and community levels.
• Implement peace education and training of peace volunteers through educational institutions.
• Example   of   campaigns   that   mobilize   peace volunteers are 'Make Poverty History' and 'Peace City Campaign', which are initiatives that can be replicated.

Volunteering for Siistainable Ecological Development

• Reorient thoughts and actions in our daily lives towards sustainable development.
• Continue to advocate for higher commitments from governments, civil society groups and corporations.
• Encourage more involvement of volunteers in critical environmental areas.
• Volunteering for Humanitarian Action
• Follow the philosophy of 'live simply so that others can simply live'.
• Invest in the future by contributing resources towards holistic development strategies.

Debates at the session on 'youth and "Environment' durintj the OAVE 'WoMtjouth Conference.

Inclusive Volunteering for Peace

• Learn and understand others in a more humane and sensitive way by encouraging accessibility, both physical and emotional, to volunteer groups.
• Promote child andyouth participation in decision-making and development processes.

Volunteering far Socially Responsible Communication Processes & Media

•  Strengthen the process of media literacy within communities in order to develop critical understanding of media actions and objectives.
•  Widen the scope and role of tradition, community and new media to promote peace.
The young volunteers at the conference challenge all youth around the world to continue to pursue partnerships and networking opportunities that strengthen the issues discussed above. Through networks such as IA VE, we hope to achieve peace hand-in-hand.

Delhi Chief Minister - Smt. Sheila Dikshit (C)walks into the closing ceremony of the 17CYE 'World Volunteer's Conference along with Dr. Savita -Singh (R)CRJ and Smt. C. Indira Dasgupta (£] at Gandhi Smriti.

IAVE World Volunteer's Conference

Speakers on the panel, discussing the topic 'Volunteering for Peace in Multicultural Societies', during the XIX IAVE World Volunteer's Conference, held in association with Gandhi Smriti and People's Institute for Development and Training (PIDT), at the India Habitat Centre from 11-14 November, 2006, emphasized that all countries in the world are essentially multicultural in one way or the other, and that volunteering provides an option to resolve conflicts through non-violent methods. They looked at various dimensions as to how volunteer promotion can bring lasting peace in multicultural societies. Some of the important sessions at the conference included environment, ecology and development; education and governance in multicultural societies; women volunteering for peace building; youth volunteering in multicultural societies; volunteering and disaster management. The valedictory session of the conference was organized at Gandhi Smriti where Delhi Chief Minister Smt Shiela Dixit was the chief guest. She exhorted the youth and all volunteers to work diligently to achieve world peace. She opined that volunteers with their commitments can be the change agents for social regeneration. Also present on the occasion were Prof. Subachari Dasgupta, Smt. Aparna Dasgupta, PIDT; Ms. C Indira Dasgupta, Convener, IAVE; Dr. Liz Burns, IAVE; and Mr. Robert Leigh.

The  inaugural session of the IAVE World Youth Conference at Gandhi Darshan.
Cultural performances by  youth groups
Cultural performances by  youth groups
Smt. Kiran Bedi, Director General BPR & D, speaking at the valedictory function of IAVE World Youth Conference at Gianahi "Darshan New Delhi.	Participants attending World Youth Conference.
Presentation on youth &media during the World Youth Conference.	The Taiwanese delegation giving a performance during the IAVE World Youth Conference at Gianahi "Darshan New Delhi.
1. Cultural performances by smt Srijan’s Mime group led by'Mr Swapan Kr. Sarkar. [2] Delineates attending  the programme. 3,4 ,5 ) Oddisi dance recital by Ms. Piyali De& Ms. Maumita Ghosh, during the   World Youth Conference Participates at the  World Volunteers Conference. Planting a free at Gandhi smriti  during the closing ceremony of the IAVE World Volunteers Conference Speakers at the Youth Conference at Gandhi Darshan Young speakers from different nations raised issues on different aspects of volunteering for peace Dr. Liz Burns with Sh. Vedabhyas Kundu at a session during the 'World Youth Conference. Dr. Hinaam Raza from Gandhi Gram sharing his perspective at the session on "The Children’s Initiative in volunteering for peace in multicultural society". The session was moderated 6y "Ms, Sailaja Gullapalli and Mr. Rajdeep Pathak during the IAVE 'World Volunteer's Conference at India Habital Centre. A session chaired by Mr. Rajeev Singh from the American-India foundation progress.