New Delhi, India/30 July 2025: Amid emerging vulnerabilities of young people to cyber threats, addiction, mental health risks and exclusion, schools are emerging as critical spaces for early prevention. Targeted educational interventions can enable young people in building values and resilience to navigate risks and choose positive paths.
Recognizing this, UNODC’s RiseUp4Peace initiative is working with educators and students to create safer, more inclusive learning environments. The initiative builds capacities of educators, empowers young people with tools to understand emerging risks and nudges schools to foster peace, inclusion, and lawfulness through everyday actions.
At Bluebells International School in Delhi, over 60 educators participated in a RiseUp4Peace capacity boosting exercise to reflect on student well-being, emotional safety, and the role of teachers. Emphasizing that real change begins with connection, educators shared real-life examples of risks students face, and called for renewed focus on addressing critical ‘interlinked’ themes. “Teachers act as first responders and role models. By building empathy and awareness, they can help shape peaceful, inclusive mindsets that last,” said Principal Ms. Sonal Rawat.
Youth are also leading the way, with knowledge, tools and a sense of purpose. In support of RiseUp4Peace, Enable Education—a youth-led-, youth-focused initiative--has created a growing network of young changemakers, parents, and disability rights advocates. With focus on disability inclusion, their efforts focus on cross-cutting online dialogues on issues pertaining to health, accessibility and safety. Observing the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the initiative hosted a special session exploring the intersection of disability and trafficking. The discussion highlighted overlooked vulnerabilities, calling for inclusive protection systems and tailored safeguards.
Over 300 students, educators and parents came together at the Veda Vyasa DAV School Vikaspuri, exploring themes pertaining to digital safety, cyber addiction, and well-being at its annual Aarohan program. Through arts, theatre and music, students underlined the impact of technology on real-life connections and called for responsible and balanced usage of digital platforms and tools.
These engagements underscored the importance of everyday actions in promoting peace and inclusion. By encouraging reflection, dialogue, and collaboration, RiseUp4Peace is committed to support educators and schools take informed steps toward more inclusive and supportive learning environments.
This activity contributed to SDG 4, SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/
