Bertha von Suttner Peace Prize and Program for Youth (Georgia), 1.5 Degrees of Peace (Canada/Global) and Africa Youth Vanguard for Peace and Climate Action (Kenya/Africa) win the 2025 PACEY Youth Awards.
Basel Peace Office is pleased to announce the three winning projects for the 2025 Peace, nuclear Abolition and Climate Engaged Youth (PACEY) Award, each of which receives a prize of €5000 plus organizational support to help in their project implementation.
The winning projects, which were chosen through ballot of the participants of the 2025 PACEY Award Ceremony on January 22, are:
- The Bertha von Suttner Peace Prize and Program for Youth, an initiative organized by the Peace Institute for Progress (Georgia) to advance the potential of youth to drive meaningful change for peace in society. It is named after Bertha von Suttner, the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Bertha lived for nine years in Georgia hosted by Princess Ekaterina Dadiani. Located on the southern border of Russia, but with strong connections to Europe, places Georgia in a very difficult political situation. This project supports youth who are engaging in initiatives for peace, democracy and human rights in such a turbulent political environment.
- 1.5 Degrees of Peace, a character-driven feature documentary produced by Kasha Slavner, following the stories of four young activists, in regions impacted by the interconnected forces driving climate change: militarization, conflicts, and systemic violence. The film contrasts our protagonists in their struggle for environmental justice, disarmament, and demilitarization, with the revolutionary love, community, and visionary solutions that exist within these movements.
- Africa Youth Vanguard for Peace and Climate Action, a youth-led initiative under the Upcoming African Youth Organization that empowers African youth to tackle global challenges through innovative, community-driven solutions. The project will engage young people in nuclear disarmament through workshops, digital campaigns, and collaborations with global organizations, highlighting the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons while fostering a culture of peace.
“The PACEY Award supports innovative projects which empower youth to lead transformative actions in the fields of peace, climate security and disarmament”, says Marzhan Nurzhan, Deputy-Director of Basel Peace Office and Co-founder of Youth Fusion, a global youth network for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
“We received nominations of 117 inspiring youth projects and project proposals from around the world. The nine finalist projects, which were presented at the PACEY Awards Ceremony, are all inspiring examples of effective youth action on these important issues for humanity and the planet. We congratulate the winning three projects, and we look forward to engaging with them to help build their success.”
The PACEY Award is cosponsored by the Basel Peace Office, Basel City (Presidential Department) and Basel-Stadt Evangelical Reformed (Protestant) Church. The 2025 Awards were organized by the three cosponsors in cooperation with Youth Present.
“Young people in Europe and around the world are standing up to demand policy progress on the climate crisis, nuclear abolition and ending war,” says Prof (em) Andreas Nidecker MD, founder of the PACEY Award. ‘They clearly see the threats to current and future generations and are taking action.”
“Peace and security are the indispensable foundation for sustainable development,” says Lukas Ott, Head of Cantonal and Urban Development, Presidential Department of the Canton of Basel-Stadt. “Only in a peaceful environment can sustainable solutions and innovation flourish. Youth-driven initiatives in peacebuilding, climate action and disarmament are crucial pillars for shaping a resilient and sustainable future”.
“Bridging continents, countries and religions: young people frequently realize, much faster than many grown-ups, that only through trust, an open heart and cooperation, is significant progress possible,” says Prof Lukas Kundert, Director of the Basel-Stadt Evangelical Reformed Church.
“In current conflicting times, youth as active agents of change are coming more forward with innovative solutions to restore peace and sustainable development,” concludes Ghurni Bhattacharya from Youth Present.