Summer 2026 GELYDA Conference​

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GELYDA hosted a successful conference in Seoul, South Korea June 24th-26th! Read more about the exciting event here!

Preparing young people for citizenship is more urgent than ever. Children and youth must develop the values, skills, and attitudes to participate meaningfully in community life, safeguard positive norms, and contribute to a more just and connected global society. Without this intentional preparation, we risk what Hobbes once warned of—a “bellum omnium contra omnes”—a war of all against all.

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Empathy, responsibility, collaboration, and commitment to the common good—do not happen by chance. They must be cultivated through both formal schooling and extended education. Afterschool programs, service learning, and community initiatives provide critical opportunities for young people to practice perspective taking, civic engagement, and collective problem-solving.​