BSK opens United Nations dialogue with students on peace and diplomacy
To mark the International Day of Peace, observed annually on 21 September, The British School of Kuwait (BSK) hosted Ms Ghada El-Tahir, Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and UN Resident Coordinator in the State of Kuwait, and Dr Bahareh Azizi, Young Ambassadors Programme Officer, on Monday 21 September 2026.
The guests joined students from Years 11-13 for a panel talk exploring peace, security and diplomacy, as well as the role young people can play in these areas. The session gave students a chance to speak directly with the guests. It opened with the idea of “sustainable peace” and what that looks like in a society like Kuwait, then turned to what actually holds peace together beyond the absence of conflict, and how it ties to development, equal opportunity, security and stability.
The discussion also looked at Kuwait’s experience in diplomacy and mediation, and at the value of dialogue in working through disagreements before they escalate. Students and the two guests then focused on the role young people can play on peace and security, and what their generation brings to those conversations. The session is part of BSK’s wider effort to prepare Higher Phase students for life after school, giving them the chance to interact directly with experienced professionals and to look closely at fields and issues beyond the curriculum.
Through events like this, BSK seeks to broaden students’ horizons and help them grow more confident asking questions, weighing in on discussions, and thinking through issues that matter to their future and the world around them. This is part of how the school helps them form their own outlook on important topics, while preparing them for university and the working world.
The session was not only limited to the topics planned in advance. Higher Phase students were invited to pose their own questions to the guests directly about peace, security, and diplomacy, building on issues that had come up over the course of the discussion. The event closed with a conversation about individual responsibility in building peace, and the steps young people can take in their own lives and communities to help spread a culture of dialogue and understanding, and to approach differences in a positive, constructive way.
