Sunday: Exploring We Go

The past 48 hours have been filled with new foods, new places, new people, and of course, new inspiration. 

We met in the lobby of the hotel at 8:30 for breakfast. By 9:30 our stomachs were full and we were meeting new friends from all around the world! The hotel lobby was filled with the sounds of students talking. If you listened closely you could hear different languages and accents scattered about the conversation. How incredible to be surrounded by representatives from so many countries! 

At 10:00 we boarded a bus for an official tour of Warsaw. Our tour guide was knowledgable and passionate about her home city of Warsaw and thus we learned much more than the mere location of famous buildings. We stopped by the Palace Park and walked through the beautiful pathways. The air was brisk and the trees boasted their perfect Autumn colors. We visited Old Warsaw which is a section of the city that, although rebuilt after the war, has maintained it's antiquated architecture and ambiance. The cobblestone streets, small family restaurants, and street performers offered a rich look into the history and culture of this wonderful city. Our tour concluded with a journey through the area of the Warsaw Ghetto. Although today the area is now renovated, our tour guide painted a vivid picture of what life was like for the hundreds of thousands of Jews that were forced into such an atrocity. Outside the parameters of the Ghetto, we saw the train platform where the Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto would board trains to the extermination camps outside of the city. Reality set in immediately and we were reminded of why we are here and why this experience is so meaningful. 

After the tour we were quite hungry so we decided to try out some kebab. There we sat like a happy family- trying new foods, sharing stories, and laughing. The food was excellent, but we had to rush back to the hotel to attend our first meeting with the other youth at the summit! 

As we re-entered the hotel lobby, students and Summit staff were bustling about. We continued to meet new friends as we waited in line for our official Summt Passes and information packets. We were ushered into a conference room where we were greeted by some of the Summit Staff. Their welcome addresses were short but exciting; their passion for the students was tangible. The energy in the room was vibrant. 

Students were asked to join into groups and create a slogan that represents why they are here and what they want to do. Xavier offered to be the speaker for his group! He got up on the microphone and spoke to this crowd of world youth about why students need to take action together in order to "lift up the entire world." We were so incredibly proud! 

The night ended with a traditional Polish dinner. Pierogi! They were delicious. The students are begging to go back before we leave!

Here are some photos from our tour! 

 

New Friends from Indonesia

Group Photo in Old Warsaw

Xavier Representing America 

Palace Park

Happy Kids!

Beautiful Autumn in the Park Overlooking the Palace

Keren & Frankie loving the experience!

Just hanging out in Old Warsaw

Taking in Some History

Warsaw Ghetto Memorial

Here we are - in Warsaw!

Earlier this afternoon as we walked off of the airplane our first steps were heavy with a year of planning, preparation, and fundraising. But as we passed through customs, hopped a taxi and headed for the hotel we could feel the weight of the past year lift off of our shoulders. Excitement and pride settled in immediately.

As we pulled up to the hotel, a large, majestically historic building caught our eye across the street. It is perhaps the most unique building in all of Warsaw and stands with conviction in the city center. As we looked up at this edifice, we realized, nearly in unison, that the conference banner was hanging there, honorably, for the entire city to see. Awestruck, the seven of us looked at one another; the moment was powerful and electric -  we are finally here and we are more ready than ever for the experiences ahead.

We had a delicious lunch in the hotel. Warm soup, delicious meats, new desserts - we fell in love immediately. Despite our jetlag and exhaustion, we spent most of the afternoon wandering around the city, checking out the conference building, and taking in the new smells and sites of our new home for the next five days.

Tomorrow we will embark on a more official tour of the city. Later in the afternoon we will attend our first Summit Meeting regarding some logistics for the days ahead.

Let's just say the vibe around here carries a tangible excitement with each new moment. We couldn't be happier to be here and we certainly couldn't be more excited for the days to come.

A Dose of Inspiration from the Wonderful Jody Williams!

Four of the student delegates met up with 1997 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Jody Williams,  at UCONN to hear her talk on human security. Students also attended PeaceJam- an organization built around inspiring a new generation of peacemakers and transformational leaders. Jody was the Nobel Laureate leading the sessions throughout the PeaceJam Conference. Students were excited that Jody was so relatable, witty, and willing to talk with them. 

After the conference, students felt an unparalleled sense of inspiration and excitement. They were so incredibly appreciative to have been a part of such a powerful experience. Once student, Yahira Escribano added " It was the best thing! It honestly has made me rethink what I want to do with my life and my career path!"

This experience really helped prepare students for the summit in Poland in that they were able to interact with students from all different communities and backgrounds.  Most importantly, they were continuously challenged to think critically about the state of our world and what they can do to improve it! 

Help us out by donating to our trip today! 

Welcome!

Welcome! Beinvenidos! Bywaj! 

This blog is the website of the Hartford Public High School youth delegation to the 13th Annual Nobel Peace Laureate World Summit in Warsaw, Poland. 

As you can imagine, this trip is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity! In order for an opportunity of this proportion to become a reality, we will need your help!

On our blog you will be able to find information about the trip, upcoming fundraising events, profiles of student delegates, and of course, an easy place to donate to our trip! 

Please visit our site regularly as we will be posting updates frequently!

What is the 13th World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates? 

The World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, which is chaired by former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and Hon. Walter Veltroni, former Mayor of Rome, is internationally recognized as among the most important and largest annual events in the field of peacemaking, attracting Nobel Peace Laureates, high-profile leaders and organizations from around the globe.  The Summit is organized by the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates on a yearly basis, and has taken place every year since 1999 in partnership with the hosting municipalities.  

Why is this important for these Hartford youth? 

This is certainly a unique opportunity in that the trip advisers share a connection to the Albert Schweitzer Institute at Quinnipiac University and have worked in alliance with ASI to bring this trip to students. This is the first time in the history of Hartford Public Schools that students have been provided with such a special opportunity. These 5 students are among the only high school students from the United States that have been invited to this conference. It is a huge honor that, of course, bears a load of responsibility as these students will not only be representing the city of Hartford, but rather the entire United States of America. 

Furthermore, the World Summit has expanded its mission to give special attention to youth attendees. In fact, students will be invited to special sessions with youth from around the world to work with Nobel Laureates in a real and personal environment. This opportunity will undoubtedly place these students on a new life trajectory. Having had this powerful of an experience at such an early age can only set them up to be the leading peacemakers and transformational leaders of the future.  

Why should you donate?

As the world becomes an increasingly complex and globalized environment we are continuously faced with new challenges and seemingly impossible solutions. This trip could empower 5 youth members of the Hartford community to step up and take on this immense challenge. Rare is the occasion that young leaders are given such an enormous opportunity to work directly with the worlds most transformational peacemakers, advocates, and thinkers. You can be a part of this movement. You can play a role in changing the future, not only for these 5 students, but perhaps for the state of our world. 

Donate here today!