Peace Thru Culture Champions Youth Advocacy

September 24, 2025

Adriane Alfred founded Peace Thru Culture (PTC) in 2006 to provide youth with global cultural exposure through various educational programs. The organization features multiple initiatives including the recently launched Global Leadership Program, which introduces high schoolers to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and encourages them to create community projects addressing these global challenges. PTC held its inaugural Global Youth Symposium in September 2023, where student leaders hosted sessions using art, STEM, civics, and advocacy to promote social change.

Who is affected

Youth between ages 13 and 18, particularly high school students
PTC Corps members like Madeline Karrer and Samantha Castro
Local communities receiving benefits from student-led projects
People experiencing hunger who received food from Madeline's initiative
Residents of Samantha's apartment building targeted by her environmental campaign

What action is being taken

Running the PTC Corps Global Leadership Program focused on UN Sustainable Development Goals
Hosting the Global Youth Symposium with breakout sessions led by student participants
Organizing global treks to countries like Costa Rica to demonstrate STEM innovation and renewable energy in action
Conducting Alternative Spring Break programs
Arranging trips to United Nations headquarters in New York City
Students implementing community projects (collecting bakery food for those in need, creating environmental awareness campaigns)

Why it matters

Provides young people with global exposure to help them make better life choices
Empowers youth to address significant global problems at an early age
Gives students practical leadership experience through hands-on projects
Demonstrates to youth that their voices matter in creating social change
Connects classroom learning to real-world applications through international experiences
Addresses the issue that youth perspectives are often overlooked in political decisions

What's next

Alfred hopes future Global Youth Symposiums will grow larger
PTC aims to establish the symposium and leadership program as permanent organizational fixtures
Students are encouraged to implement their developed action plans in their communities
Participants are expected to continue their campaigns in schools and on social media

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer