Student Peace Prize
“We don’t have a peace prize. Why don’t we have a peace prize? We should have a peace prize!” It all started with this discussion between students in Trondheim – and with these words the Student Peace Prize became a reality.
Foto: fotogjengen.samfundet.no
A proud Laureate
In 1998 enthusiastic students under the leadership of Sigvart Eriksen were involved in arranging the fifth International Student Festival in Trondheim, which would take place in March the following year. Almost ten years after the idea of ISFiT came to life, a new idea of a peace prize from students to students began to take shape. The founders felt strongly that students fighting for peace and human rights often were neglected by politicians and the media. They also wondered about why students never seemed to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Students have always played an active part in conflicts, raising their voices for democratic, as well as human rights. The students founding the Student Peace Prize wanted these to be noticed and honored. An alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize was established with a goal of giving struggling students and their organizations new inspiration and hope.
