💬 Blog: When the World Feels Heavy — A Message to Our PTPI Family
There’s a quiet sense I’ve picked up on lately. Maybe you’ve felt it too — a kind of weariness.
Some of it comes through in silence, and some in the occasional message from our members and friends. It’s not discontent, and it’s not about PTPI specifically. It’s something deeper. It’s the echo of five long years of change, uncertainty, and strain on the human spirit.
We don’t always know each other’s personal stories — what you’ve had to carry, what you’ve lost, or how you’ve endured. But we do know this: the world has been asking a lot of people lately.
From war and displacement to climate shocks, social division, and personal heartbreak, the challenges seem relentless. It can feel like we’re all having to dig deeper than ever just to keep moving forward. And yet — here we are. Still here. Still trying. Still caring.
No one understood this better than those who built the foundations of People to People International. Our journey began on September 11, 1956, when U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower recognised the importance of citizen-led diplomacy. He knew that if people could better understand one another, peace between nations might one day follow.
PTPI was born from this conviction — and it was brought to life by an extraordinary group of people: businessman J.C. Hall, legendary entertainer Bob Hope, and visionary Walt Disney were among the original champions. They believed in the power of people — and in a kind of diplomacy that starts not in government halls, but in living rooms, classrooms, and communities.
That vision is still alive. Even now, as we rebuild the organization, as we renew our chapters and reconnect across borders, we are once again called to dig deep. But we’re not digging alone. We’re part of something bigger. We’re part of a movement that believes peace doesn’t come from policies or power — it comes from people.
People like you. People like us.
Even in our quieter moments, even when we’re smaller or stretched thin — our mission still matters. Our voices, united, still ring with purpose.
President Eisenhower said, “Men must understand one another before nations can. If people get together, so eventually will governments.”
That truth still stands tall today. In a world that feels increasingly loud and divided, the quiet work of building bridges — one story, one handshake, one project at a time — is more urgent than ever.
To those feeling weary: We see you. We honour your resilience. And we’re walking this path with you.
Together, we will continue to advance peace through understanding.
And together, we will rise.
— Chalks Corriette
Director-General
People to People International – AISBL
GCC Brussels, Belgium
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