Introducing an IPYG Affiliate Organization – MasterPeace Romania

 

Hello, my name is Marian Dragomir, president of MasterPeace Romania. If I were to describe our organization in one phrase, I would say that we are architects of peace. We work to connect people with one another, and at the same time, to ensure that actions that begin at the local level are able to influence policymaking.

The headquarters of MasterPeace Romania are located in Ploiești, in southern Romania. We have official chapters in Bucharest and Brașov, as well as informal chapters in Buzău and Târgoviște, where young people are voluntarily leading activities. Currently, more than 1,000 volunteers are actively involved in our organization.

 

 

We work from a simple yet powerful belief: peace is built through education and active inclusion.

In one week, we may be in a classroom in Brașov, working together with teachers to implement our award-winning “School of Peace Program.” The following week, our members may be at the European Parliament in Brussels, participating in a job-shadowing program to learn firsthand how EU policies related to child poverty and digital literacy are developed.

Beyond learning from policy environments in Brussels and the National CERB Advisory Consortium in Bucharest, we transform these insights into practical tools that can be applied within our local communities. Representative examples include advocating for digital service support for Ukrainian families, organizing a peace walk in Ploiești together with 200 young people from across Europe, and implementing the Model UNESCO Romania project, which received third place at the National Youth Gala.

 

 

Our partnership with IPYG is one of the achievements we are most proud of. Even before signing a formal agreement, MasterPeace Romania and IPYG were already carrying out strong joint projects together. The starting point of this collaboration was the “School of Peace Program,” which was developed and operated together with HWPL and adapted specifically for Romanian schools. Through this program, more than 12 schools and approximately 300 young people in the Prahova and Brașov regions participated. In recognition of its impact, the program received the “Communities that Inspire” Award at the 2025 Prahova Youth Gala.

In 2019, I was appointed as Romania’s first Peace Educator by Chairman Lee Man-hee of HWPL.

MasterPeace Romania, which holds consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), entered into an official partnership with HWPL as a publicity ambassador. In the same year, on May 19, we jointly hosted the “YOUTH, LET’S VOICE OUT” conference together with HWPL and IPYG.

 

 

The trust and cooperation built over many years took a more concrete form following an invitation from the IPYG Incheon Branch in November of last year.

During a five-day cultural and peace activity exchange program, six of our youth leaders engaged in in-depth discussions with IPYG on the theme of peace culture. Through this process, the foundation for long-term cooperation was established, and MasterPeace Romania became the first IPYG partner organization in Romania.

The synergy between our organizations was clear. We brought a field-based educational model through the School of Peace Program, while IPYG contributed a strong global youth network. Together, we are now preparing a multi-year plan for joint activities that will begin in 2026.

Lastly, there is a message I would like to share with young people.

Your voice is your power. That voice has the ability to change reality, from a schoolyard to the global stage. You do not need anyone’s permission to become a leader. The true power of youth lies in its versatility and relentless energy. This power grows stronger when it moves in the field, when it crosses boundaries if necessary, and when it is shared together rather than carried alone.

We do not empower youth. Rather, we recognize the inherent power that you already possess. We provide platforms such as MasterPeace and IPYG, and we stand beside you as you choose to exercise that power for yourselves. So let us build peace—not someday, but today. The blueprint is already in your hands.