Day 14 · June 29, 2026 · Paris, France

On this day, we walked into Maison Littéraire de Victor Hugo, a house that holds the memory of one of history’s greatest writers, and were welcomed by Christine Ponsignon, Director of the House, and Mahaut Stefan, Charge of Collection. We learned about Victor Hugo’s life, his exile, his fury, his tenderness, and his unshakeable belief that literature is not decoration. It is resistance. It is how you reach people across centuries.

Hugo wrote Les Misérables in exile. He wrote about justice when it wasn’t safe to. He used words the way others used weapons, with purpose, with compassion, and with love for humanity. Standing in those rooms, you feel the weight of what one person’s voice can carry.

Then in the afternoon, we gathered with India Anderson and young leaders who study in France for a conversation that traveled between two giants: Victor Hugo and Daisaku Ikeda. A French novelist and a Japanese philosopher, separated by a century, connected by the same conviction.

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Painted by Renaissance master Raphael, “The School of Athens” brings together history’s greatest thinkers—Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Pythagoras, Ptolemy, and others—in a grand hall of learning. Each figure represents a unique pursuit: ethics, reason, mathematics, metaphysics, and the search for truth. Raphael didn’t just paint a scene—he captured the human aspiration to grow, question, and collaborate across all fields of life: philosophy, science, art, and civic society. These diverse minds are united not by power or conformity, but by a shared purpose: to elevate humanity, to cultivate virtue, and to help each person achieve their arete.

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Bill Taylor was the visionary founder of the original Arete West program, which ran from 1979 to 2017. Over the course of 40 years, he personally led students on 20 transformative journeys across the globe, inspiring hundreds of young people to pursue wisdom, leadership, and compassionate service. His encouragement helped spark the creation of the Arete Youth Academy, which carries forward his mission to empower youth through education. This scholarship fund ensures his legacy continues to shape future generations.

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Paris and Lyon, France

France will provide a stage for critical inquiry into colonial legacies, secularism, and artistic revolution. In Paris and Lyon, students will engage with Orientalism by Edward Said and Europe and Islam by Hichem Djait, uncovering how power and perception shape global narratives. Sites may include the Panthéon, the Institut du Monde Arabe, and local cultural institutions. Dialogue will be framed through Ikeda’s Before It Is Too Late and exchanges with French scholars and artists. The animated film Persepolis—a Franco-Iranian narrative of identity and dissent—will enrich reflections on postcolonial voice and visual storytelling.

Berlin and Weimar, Germany

Germany offers a profound space to examine 20th-century ethical crisis and cultural resilience. In Berlin, sites like the Topography of Terror and the Berlin Wall Memorial will serve as touchstones for exploring themes in Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship and the film The Lives of Others. In Weimar, participants will investigate the Enlightenment and cultural innovation through Goethe, Arendt, and the Bauhaus. Edward Said’s Orientalism and Ikeda’s Inner Transformation provide frameworks for addressing memory, otherness, and reconciliation. Ode to Joy and Wings of Desire may offer artistic accompaniment to discussions of post-war European rebirth.

Rome and Florence, Italy

Italy brings Renaissance thought and classical ideals into vibrant focus. In Rome and Florence, students will examine Machiavelli’s The Prince, Plato’s Dialogues, and Raphael’s The School of Athens to explore civic ethics, aesthetics, and philosophical lineage. Museum visits and street-level engagement with artists and students provide tangible links to the humanistic ideals echoed in Daisaku Ikeda’s Art of True Relations. Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, studied as an embodiment of unity, may be juxtaposed with Italian artistic movements that shaped European identity and values.

Athens, Greece

In Greece, students will walk in the footsteps of the world’s first philosophers—tracing the origins of inquiry, democracy, and the examined life. Standing in the Agora, where Socrates engaged young Athenians in fearless dialogue about virtue and truth, participants will reflect on how authentic conversation remains the heartbeat of human progress. Visits to the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, and the ruins of Aristotle’s Lyceum will anchor discussions on the birth of reason and the moral responsibilities of free thought. Key readings will include selections from Plato’s Apology and Republic, Pericles’ Funeral Oration, and Constantine Cavafy’s timeless poem Ithaka, urging travelers to cherish the inner journey as much as the destination. Students will also explore Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, reflecting on his vision of “eudaimonia”—a flourishing life achieved through virtue and self-mastery—and its relevance to modern global citizenship.

Sofia & Plovdiv, Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, participants will explore the country’s pivotal role as a cultural bridge between East and West, engaging deeply with its spiritual, philosophical, and historical contributions. A key focus will be the philosophical dialogue “The Lion’s Path” between Daisaku Ikeda and renowned Bulgarian art historian Axinia Djourova, offering insights into the power of cultural memory and humanistic values in post-communist societies. The cohort will meet with Djourova and students at Sofia University, where they will participate in structured cross-cultural exchanges and reflective dialogue on shared ethical concerns. Visits will include the Ivan Duychev Centre for Slavo-Byzantine Studies, which Djourova led for many years, to examine Bulgaria’s enduring role in preserving Byzantine intellectual and artistic traditions. Participants will also explore museums and cultural sites in Sofia and Plovdiv, gaining a comprehensive view of Bulgaria’s influence from ancient Thracian civilizations to its vibrant contemporary arts scene.

Istanbul, Turkey

As a city bridging East and West, Istanbul provides an immersive backdrop to explore The Art of the Byzantine Empire by David Talbot Rice and The Fall of Constantinople 1453 by Steven Runciman. Students will study Byzantine aesthetics and Ottoman legacies through visits to the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace, while also engaging with visual and poetic traditions tied to mysticism and power. Ikeda’s Choose Life dialogue may anchor discussions on civilizational cycles. Turkish cultural expressions—from Sufi poetry to contemporary music—invite reflection on identity, continuity, and transformation.

Jerusalem, Israel

In Jerusalem, participants will investigate interfaith ethics through texts like Scars of War, Wounds of Peace by Shlomo Ben-Ami and My Promised Land by Ari Shavit. Sandy Tolan’s The Lemon Tree will serve as a humanizing lens through which to examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Students may also explore The Heart of Islam by Nasr and Heschel’s The Sabbath, creating a tri-faith ethical conversation. In-person dialogue with Palestinian and Israeli youth, faith leaders, and scholars—potentially including figures like Dr. Mustafa Barghouti—will animate philosophical themes of reconciliation and historical memory. Artistic engagement may include viewing the photographic work Refugee by Khaled Akil.

Amman and Petra, Jordan

In Jordan, students may journey from Amman’s Roman ruins to the carved facades of Petra, guided by themes in Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence and Islam and the Arab Awakening by Tariq Ramadan. These texts allow for critical inquiry into colonial entanglements and modern Arab identity. Jordan’s cinematic voice may be represented by Theeb, a film set during WWI that portrays Bedouin culture. The site experience may be deepened by exchanges with youth on contemporary challenges like water justice, alongside reflections inspired by the contemplative poetry of Naomi Shihab Nye.

Medina, Saudi Arabia

In Medina, students will explore the origins of Islam and the inclusive spirit of the Prophet Muhammad’s community. Discussions will center on No God but God by Reza Aslan and The Constitution of Medina, offering a philosophical lens on early Islamic pluralism and gender equity. Dialogues may be enhanced through Daisaku Ikeda’s Global Civilization: A Buddhist-Islamic Dialogue, which emphasizes shared ethical foundations. Students will visit sacred sites, meet local scholars, and engage in cross-cultural dialogue with Saudi students. The spiritual tone of the trip is complemented by visual study of Osman Hamdi Bey’s Whirling Dervishes and music by Umm Kulthum.

Ignite the Fire of Wisdom Within

Ignite the Fire of Wisdom Within

Ignite the Fire of Wisdom Within

Day 14 · June 29, 2026 · Paris, France