The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored Finland’s ex-president Martti Ahtisaari, 71, for his efforts to build a lasting peace from Africa and Asia to Europe and the Middle East. By naming Ahtisaari as the Nobel Peace Prize winner, the Nobel committee returned its focus to traditional peace work.

According to Ole Danbolt Mjoes, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel awards committee, the award was in line with recent Nobels to other peace mediators, notably Jimmy Carter in 2002 and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2001.

Ahtisaari told AP Television News that while winning the prize would help his future mediation work, he is looking to other challenges, too, particularly youth unemployment worldwide.

It’s comforting to know that there are people like Martti Ahtisaari, who is committed in making the world a better place. At his age, he could have retired and forget about the problems of this world. But then he is still very willing to extend his help. I am glad that his next goal is geared towads solving youth unemployment. I know a lot of college gradutes who have hard time finding a job and are underemployed. This is a saddening fact. The government is trying to address these concerns but the fact still remains that the unemployment rate is getting higher.