Global Journeys for Young People to Build Peace

Young People from Around the World
Gather for Peace-Building Summits

ARK (Architects Relationships Knowledge) is an international youth group that believes in and works to achieve global peace.

ARK began in 2001 with a small group of concerned adults who insisted that peace needed to start with young people, the hope for the future. In November 2003, after much planning, youth and adults gathered for the first ARK Summit in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala. Young people from three countries – Guatemala, Palestine and United States – interacted patiently, stumbled and laughed through language translations to discover respect for our cultural and faith diversities. They delved into tough subjects like poverty, oppression, racism, human rights and powerlessness. Through that struggle, they began to bond as a global family.

ARK people in red t-shirts on Macalester College lawn, summer 2019Global Citizenship, ARK 2019 at Macalester College, Minnesota, USA

Now, after seven successful two-week summits, the original three countries of Guatemala, Palestine and the US now includes participants from Iran, Malawi, Lithuania and Pakistan. ARK has become a Global Family aware of the importance of sustainable goals that are important to each of their countries. They have bonded to care about one another even as they return to their homelands to implement goals to build a better world for all people. A mouthful, to be sure, but nonetheless, a commitment made with integrity and energy as they move in AGENDA 2017 AND BEYOND to shape the WORLD THEY WANT for themselves and future generations: GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP 2019 and INTO THE FUTURE OF 2020.

“Our voice can become a beautiful song stronger than a nuclear bomb.”
– Rudy Rosales, Guatemala

“ARK is something I live each and every day of my life. I have something to strive for, something to reflect on, something to encourage me to make a difference. I am inspired by my ARK Family.”
– Jason Capecchi, student,George Town University, Washington D.C.