BUILDing peace, my experience representing UTS as a Global Peace Ambassador

Last month I was honoured to represent UTS and UTS BUILD at the Humanitarian Affairs Asia 4^th Global Peace Summit, located in the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok!

Attending this Summit was a transformative experience that I’m forever grateful for. The summit boasted over 400 delegates from over 40 different countries, which created a unique environment for crucial discussion and reflection on everything peace.

The entire experience was surreal from start to finish. The first day began with a delicious buffet breakfast with all participating delegates. After breakfast, we would leave for the conference centre, all boarding the buses, where police escorts guided our journey. Once arriving and passing security, all delegates would find their seats in the conference hall, where we were welcomed with a live orchestra. I was nothing short of amazed. Buffet breakfasts, police escorts and live orchestras? All extraordinary, and the formalities were yet to begin.

The formalities themselves were just as incredible. Listening to an extensive variety of highly accomplished speakers, who all eloquently articulated their stories and discussed peace related topics, were truly inspirational and beautiful.

It was truly an honour to have heard presentations from Dr Manal Omar (CEO and founder of Across Red Lines), Loung Ung (Cambodian genocide survivor, activist and author), Lejla Damon (founder of the Forgotten Children of War Association and Bosnian War Child), Neimat Ahmadi (Darfur genocide survivor and the founder of the Darfur Women’s Action Group), Jennifer Nadel (founder of Compassion in Politics), Claude Gatebuke (Rwandan genocide survivor, author and activist), Maram Humaid (Palestinian journalist actively reporting in Palestine), Marina Cantacuzino (founder of the Forgiveness Project) and Steve Killelea (founder of the Global Peace Index).

Between the speaker presentations there were bridge building breaks, where delegates were able to network amongst each other, and I was grateful to meet future leaders from across the globe.

Every single one of the speakers’ presentations were profoundly impactful and truly moving. They empowered us delegates to reflect on the importance on peace, and how to achieve peace building in our own lives.

What particularly stuck with me was the $19.1 trillion dollar impact that conflicts and peace disruption had on the global economy (roughly $2330 per person), where this confronting statistic reminds me that peace is a burden on so many dimensions.

I would like to extend my thanks to UTS (particularly UTS BUILD and UTS Think Global), Humanitarian Affairs Asia, the United Nations, all speakers, and all delegates for allowing me to participate in such an transformative and inspiring experience.

Robert Nersisyan
Bachelor of Public Health Bachelor of Business
BUILD – BUILD – Peace Summit of Emerging Leaders (Thailand)
BUILD Global Ambassador Grant recipient

For more information about the UTS BUILD please visit: www.uts.edu.au/build