Universidad para la Paz

My three weeks in Costa Rica will be spent studying at the UN University for Peace. UPEACE was chartered by the UN in 1980 by request of the Costa Rican president at the time. Through a national referendum in the 1940's the Costa Rican people opted to abolish their military in hopes to diminish violence. However in an accidental bombing, Costa Rica was attacked and innocent lives were lost. In an act of retaliation, Costa Rica pledged to start UPEACE in their effort to educate other to spread peace and end violence negotiations.

American University established a joint degree program with UPEACE and supported the university from its start. For years the university had difficulty attracting students and maintaing funding from private donors. Then, Kofi Annan became the Secretary General of the United Nations and revitalized the university.

UPEACE is a small institution, only 200 students, focusing on masters students studying different types of international relations. It provides a multi-disiplinary approach to peace and conflict resolution, giving students a common language to work together in and ignite development. Our first day at UPEACE was spent touring the ever-ending campus. The views surrounding the university are stunning; revealing to me further the miraculous natural beauty of Costa Rica's landscape.

Some magnificent sights I saw on my tour of the university.