The mentoring programme for young mediators is part of the implementation of the Letter of Intent on cooperation in mediation between Finland and South Africa. The Letter of Intent was signed during the then President Sauli Niinistö’s state visit to South Africa in April 2023. Through this joint initiative, South Africa and Finland are piloting a training and mentorship investment in the role of young peace mediators from diverse countries, reflecting an investment in building – and over time seeking to expand – both the competence and the cohort of young people who can play these crucial roles. 

The fifteen selected participants include representatives from South Africa, Finland, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Qatar, South Sudan, Türkiye, and Ukraine. An important criterion in selecting the other participants was a broad geographical representation. Following the UN Security Council Resolution on Youth, Peace and Security the programme covers 18-29-year-olds.