On Nov. 5-7, EMIS proudly hosted the 10th Annual YOCOPAS Youth Conference, marking a full decade of meaningful dialogue, connection, and youth-led action dedicated to peace and sustainability. Over the years, YOCOPAS has grown into a unique platform that brings together young people from diverse backgrounds to listen, learn, and lead together. This year’s theme, “Stories Beyond Borders: Where Stories Travel, Borders Disappear,” placed storytelling at the heart of the conference. Over two inspiring days, students from nine schools and partner NGOs, representing Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Alawite communities alongside EMIS’s international student body, came together to share personal narratives, explore identity, and reflect on shared challenges and hopes for the region.
The conference opened with an inspiring keynote address by Asaf Zamir, First Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv–Jaffa, setting the tone for thoughtful engagement and open dialogue. Throughout the program, participants took part in interactive workshops, facilitated discussions, creative sessions, and community-building activities, all designed to encourage empathy, critical thinking, and collaboration across differences.
The conference concluded with a powerful student-led outcome: participants created original short storytelling videos that captured their voices, experiences, and visions for a more just and shared future. These projects reflected the core spirit of YOCOPAS, empowering young people to turn dialogue into action and ideas into creative expression. We are deeply proud of our students, the YOCOPAS organizing committee, and the dedicated partners who make this conference possible year after year. Together, they continue to demonstrate the power of education, storytelling, and youth leadership in building bridges beyond borders.
