Fireside Peace Chats: Youth & Peace with Jonathan van Varik

In this next edition of FPC, we will discuss the unique perspective and position that youth can and should play in advancing peace from the local to the global level. Our guest speaker for this FPC edition is Jonathan van Varik, youth worker, freelance peace-builder, and the lead coordinator of the 2026 Youth Peace Summit! With Jonathan, we will discuss how we can  connect youth, institutions, organizations, and governments in dialogue, innovation, and inclusion to empower young people worldwide to become active creators of peace. Within that context, we will explore the contribution of the Youth Peace Summit, its 2025 Youth Peace Manifesto, and the summit’s innovative infrastructure for connecting youth peace-builders year-round, which will be launched at the upcoming 2026 summit! Join us for an informal conversation intended to bring peacebuilders, enthusiasts, and citizens together to connect, share experiences, and exchange insights on how we can promote resilience within our local communities.

What are the Fireside Peace Chats?

The Fireside Peace Chats aim to create a space where practice, research, and policy in the field of peacebuilding come together in an informal way through the experiences of people on the ground. By sharing personal stories from peacebuilders and other figures with extensive experience in conflict areas, we want to contribute to a locally informed paradigm shift in liberal peacebuilding.

The Fireside Peace Chats originally emerged as a joint initiative of Leiden University College (LUC), the Knowledge Platform for Security and the Rule of Law (KPSRL), and The Hague Humanity Hub (THHH). Read more about previous editions here.