Culture of Peace and Environmental Youth Encounter

One of the plans already made during the first exploratory meeting in The Hague, May 1994, became reality in September 1999 in Costa Rica. Thanks to the courageous efforts of Maritza Salazar and Asilia Arellano, and with financial assistance of Ecooperation, [9] the encounter took place from 17 – 26 September 1999,

with the active participation of 7 Youth leaders from the Netherlands. Some of them university students in a variety of disciplines, others recently graduated, or studying at High School.

The Youth Encounter group consisting of University students, accompanied by an indigenous Shaman and Youth representatives from indigenous groups, discussed and exchanged experiences in developing inner peace related to contemporary problems like sustainable development and social justice. Smaller groups made excursions to different areas of Costa Rica to study local conditions of life and remaining elements of indigenous culture. The