Guwahati, Oct 30: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati hosted “BRIDGES: The Commonwealth Youth Peace Summit 2025,” bringing together delegates from 56 Commonwealth nations. The event was organised by the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (CYPAN) in collaboration with the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) and IIT Guwahati.
The summit, themed “From Conflict to Creativity: Youth-Led Peacebuilding in the Digital Age,” aimed to promote peace, understanding, and youth-led innovation in addressing global challenges. It marked the first time the Commonwealth Youth Peace Summit was held in Northeast India.
Distinguished dignitaries attending the event included Biswajit Daimary, Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly; Diganta Barah, former Commissioner of Police, Guwahati; Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati; and Aboyob Bhuyan, Founder of the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival.
Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador and Lead – Communications, Sukanya Sonowal, highlighted the significance of hosting the summit in the region. She said Northeast India serves as an example of how dialogue and inclusivity can transform conflict into harmony. She noted that delegates from Jammu and Kashmir visited Assam to learn from the Bodoland Peace Accord — a community-led peace initiative that continues to contribute to Assam’s progress.
The summit featured discussions, panel sessions, and workshops exploring the role of technology, artificial intelligence, digital storytelling, and creative expression in building peace and promoting intercultural understanding. Over 150 participants took part in the sessions focused on conflict prevention, digital collaboration, and sustainable development.
As part of CYPAN’s 10th anniversary celebration, the event also included messages from Trevor O’Haille, Chairperson of CYPAN, and Haneekah Rahil, Global Coordinator of CYPAN, under the theme “A Decade of Youth-Led Peace.”
The programme strengthened collaboration between IIT Guwahati, CYPAN, CYC, and youth networks across the Commonwealth, reaffirming their commitment to advancing youth leadership, innovation, and cross-cultural dialogue for global peace.
