The IMAGINE Peace Conference Executive Committee

The IMAGINE Peace Executive Committee consists of members of two student organizations at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies: The United Nations Society and The Habitat Circle.

The aim of the IMAGINE Peace Conference is to raise awareness of extreme poverty and to take action to solve problems faced by the poor. In order to create a peaceful world, a first step is the eradication of poverty.

IMAGINE Peace hopes to take action for peace against poverty in the spirit of the motto of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Pax Mundi per Linguas, Peace in the World through Language.

The Kyoto United Nations Society was begun in 2001, soon after the 9/11 incident in New York City made people around the world realize the crucial importance of deepening our understanding of global affairs.

Members of the United Nations Society have attended Model United Nations Conferences in New York City in 2002 and 2007. They have also attended meetings in Bonn, Berlin, Shanghai, Beijing, and Tokyo. The Kyoto University of Foreign Studies UN Society holds about 6 small, special conferences each year on its home campus. The members also visit UN organizations and embassies for briefings.

The KUFS group has partnerships with student United Nations organizations at the University of Bonn, in Germany and at Donghua University in Shanghai, China.

The Habitat Circle, which works with Habitat for Humanity International, was established at KUFS in 1997. This group is mainly a micro-financing organization. The students raise money which serves as interest-free housing loans for families who need decent affordable housing. The members of Habitat Circle have traveled to the Philippines, the United States, Korea, Thailand, and Cambodia to build houses, hold cultural exchange events, and to research poverty issues. Every year many fund-raising, awareness-raising, and educational events are held on campus.

In many parts of our world today, people suffer in wars. Natural disasters suddenly destroy lives and whole communities. Many people do not have decent housing. Millions and millions of the world's people do have enough nutritious food to live good lives. Countless numbers of people endure preventable diseases. Children lose their parents and are left helpless.

All this happens while we more fortunate people eat whatever we want, have fun, enjoy our hobbies, and take a good life for granted.

We know this. And, we know that it is not right. But, we don't know what we can do to change the world.

IMAGINE Peace is our belief that the small power of individuals can improve lives, even save lives, if we put our small individual efforts together.

We have two mottos: Chikara awasate, hitotsu ni natte - Come Together, Be One. The second is Step by Step.

With these thoughts in our hearts, we will do our best for the IMAGINE Peace Conference. We are not perfect. This conference is a first and small step. But, we hope our passion will touch you. We want you to share our dream of ending extreme poverty.

For more information: contact

Imagine Peace Committee