🌍 Jeunesse Park – First Peace Circle® Ambassador in Africa

On 19 September 2025, Global Peace Circle Day, Jeunesse Park – pioneer of environmental education and UNEP Sasakawa Award laureate for Climate Change – was announced as the first Peace Circle® Ambassador in Africa during a celebration in Green Point Park, Cape Town, featuring a school performance of the ABC for Peace play and the planting of a Peace Tree.

The celebration in Cape Town

The event took place in advance of the International Day of Peace (21 September). Local schoolchildren performed the ABC for Peace play, bringing the values of peace to life through drama. After the performance, a Peace Tree was planted as a symbol of peace and in honour of Jeunesse Park’s appointment as Ambassador. Earlier the same week, Peace Circle® was presented at the EEASA 2025 Conference in Cape Town, where it received very positive feedback from educators and sustainability experts.

A pioneer of environmental education

Jeunesse Park founded Trees for Africa in 1989, the first South African NGO focusing on large-scale tree planting and environmental education. Over time, the organisation expanded into food security, school and community gardens, and sustainable practices, and became known as Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA).

In recognition of her lifelong dedication, Jeunesse was awarded the UNEP Sasakawa Award for Climate Change in 2007 – one of the United Nations’ most prestigious environmental honours – for her substantial contributions to environmental protection and management, including grassroots climate change initiatives.

Her message as Ambassador

Jeunesse Park expressed her commitment to Peace Circle® in her own words:

“The Peace Circle’s vision speaks to my heart. Their focus on peace, biodiversity and circular economy principles – planting trees, creating living sanctuaries, and weaving people, nature and values together – reflects what the world needs most today. I am honoured to serve as an ambassador in Africa where I hope to help grow their vision, to inspire communities, and to nurture a future where peace, nature and human wellbeing thrive together.”

A milestone for Peace Circle® in Africa

With Jeunesse Park as the first Ambassador in Africa, Peace Circle® gains a guiding light whose work embodies the balance of values, knowledge, and action – the very heart of the Peace Circle® model. Her life’s work continues now as part of a growing global movement to nurture harmony between people and nature.

From left: Lindie Buirski (Head, Environmental Capacity Building Unit, City of Cape Town), Mika Vanhanen (Founder of Peace Circle®), and Jeunesse Park (Peace Circle® Ambassador in Africa) in Green Point Park on 19 September 2025 – Global Peace Circle Day.