Peace Direct USA, 1822 R Street NW, Dupont Circle, Washington D.C., DC (2026)

01/18/2024

Meet Grace from Kenya 🇰🇪

Growing up, she witnessed violence in her community and conflicts across her country.

‘I [saw] firsthand the repercussions of conflict ... Yet, amid these challenges, I also saw the resilience of individuals, especially young people, who yearned for a different future.’

Since turning 21, Grace has dedicated her life to peacebuilding. She is now the Executive Director of Women Volunteers for Peace (WOVOP), a local group committed to the protection of at-risk women and girls. They now have 430 dedicated volunteers who are committed to building lasting peace across Kenya.

‘Each step forward, every challenge overcome, and every life touched serves as a testament to the boundless potential of young women in shaping a future of enduring peace and prosperity.’

Thank you, Grace, for standing with women and girls across Kenya 🖤

09/19/2023

Say hello to Anna from Venezuela 🇻🇪

In 2017, she joined peaceful protests against human rights abuses in her country alongside thousands of fellow students. They faced repression, violence and tear gas. Over 160 people were killed in just three months.

Nails, screws and bullets were shot at Anna and those around her. After one of her friends was killed, she became more committed than ever to creating change.

“When one of my university colleagues was killed, it was like a part of me died with him. We had to make it make sense. There was no way such an amazing person [could die] without things changing.”

Anna could see that violence was not going to achieve the positive or sustainable change she wanted. Which is why she founded a non-violent student-led movement. To help bridge divides, and build long lasting peace.

“[Young people should] not be a disposable token of conflict but be involved in high level decision-making … I have built a community of young people, that are motivated to shift power in a different way.”

For Anna, peace starts with understanding and being part of the conversation. Thank you, Anna, for all you are doing to help build a safer, fairer future 🪧

09/07/2023

Meet Nishchhal from Nepal 🇳🇵

From a young age he witnessed ethnic, caste and class-based discrimination in his country.

After the earthquake in 2015, Nepal faced an economic and humanitarian crisis caused by a severe shortage of food, fuel, medicines and vaccines. A political protest soon divided the country and led to more than 600 incidents of violence. Hundreds of people lost their lives.

Nishchhal wanted to change things. Which is why he became a local peacebuilder. To help prevent further polarisation and conflict in Nepal.

He founded Freedom Studio: A pro-democracy, youth-led initiative supporting marginalised young people.

“I created Freedom Studio to function as a network that strategically and creatively supports civic expression and peaceful mobilisation”.

Through trainings, Nish has helped hundreds of young people. Engaging marginalised and oppressed communities to use creative and non-violent techniques to demand justice and ensure their rights.

“I am confident that such efforts will [increase] their status within society and challenge unjust social norms and practices”.

For Nish, peace starts with the younger generations. Thank you, Nish, for supporting young people in Nepal to build longstanding peace 🧱

08/17/2023

“We are still getting used to our new life...”

This is Liiana. She is from Ukraine 🇺🇦

Her life was turned upside down when the war in her country began in February last year.

“I woke up to a call from a friend … 10 minutes later I heard an explosion. It was a missile which hit my city.”

After fleeing from Ukraine, Liiana and her mother made their way to France. They hoped things would soon return to normal - so they could safely return home.

But after 18 months living in France, Liiana has come to terms with her new normal. She has started studying at university, is learning French and getting used to life in the city of Tours.

“I felt the support of people even though I didn’t discuss [the war] with them and what my family has experienced … We are masters of our lives [now].”

Liiana and her mother have built a new life for themselves in France. They feel supported in their local community, and are looking forward to one day returning home to Ukraine.

We are forever grateful to all the peacebuilders around the world who are welcoming people like Liiana and helping them find safety and security as they rebuild their lives 💙💛

08/09/2023

Sahra is from Somalia 🇸🇴

A country where decades of war and civil conflict have devastated the lives of millions.

When she was still a teenager, Sahra overheard her father making plans for her to marry the leader of a local militant group. She could feel her hopes for an independent future slipping away in that moment.

Faced with no other option: Sahra fled to the coastal city of Kismayo to start a new life for herself. She met our local partner, the Social-life and Agricultural Development Organization (SADO), soon after she arrived.

They taught Sahra how to tailor and better manage her finances. She now runs her own tailoring business, from which she receives a steady income.

With a helping hand from our local partner, Sahra was able to achieve her dream of independence. Thank you SADO for being there for women like Sahra in Somalia 💙

07/28/2023

Sail is from Pakistan. When he was 19, he noticed that many children and other young people in his village were being exploited by armed groups promoting violent ideas. Sail knew he had to do something to stop them, but didn’t know where to start.

That was before he met our local partner, Aware Girls. They showed him how to help his people lead more peaceful lives. Sail is now an important voice in his local community, promoting tolerance and nonviolence. In his own words:

“Some understood my message and others ignored it. But, with the passage of time more [young people] joined me … Since I attended the training with Aware Girls, I have been able to bring considerable change in my surroundings.”

We’re grateful to all our partners who are helping people like Sail make their communities safer places to grow up in ✌️

07/09/2023

“I heard a fighter aircraft passing by ... I started to realise what was happening.”

Meet Makarii. He is a professional rower from Mykolayv, Ukraine.

He was at home asleep when the war began. When he awoke, his life changed forever.

Intense fighting devastated his hometown. Makarii and his family were forced to flee. They sought refuge with family in France. It took 10 days to reach them safely.

When they finally arrived, Makarii was supported by his Aunt. She works with a local organisation assisting Ukranian refugees.

Makarii and his family are now safe. He is learning to speak French at university, and has joined a local rowing club.

“I have twice been a [rowing] champion of Ukraine … Last year I competed in the World Championships.”

Makarii is excited to compete and is happy to be studying, but still hopes one day to return home to Ukraine.

We are grateful to peacebuilders around the world who are supporting survivors of war like Makarii, helping them to find safety and rebuild their lives 💙💛

06/23/2023

“I was so traumatised … There was an attack on our community.”

Meet Zainab. She is from Quetta in Pakistan.

Her family is part of a minority group who have faced persecution for many years. One day things escalated. Her community was attacked.

“A number of people were killed, including my Aunt.”

This tragedy took a heavy toll on Zainab’s mental health. To help process her trauma, she required medical support. Zainab practised her passion for drawing whilst in hospital.

“The doctors saw my sketches and asked me to express my feelings in this form...”

Not long after leaving hospital, Zainab met our partner organisation, Aman Rang. They gave her a grant to help scale up her drawings. She now works with other young trauma survivors. Together, they are spreading messages of peace throughout their country.

“[Aman Rang] gave us a platform - to show people the suffering of our community.”

Zainab's work has since been recognised across Pakistan. We're grateful for our partners who are supporting young people like her who are struggling with their mental health due to conflict. Thank you for being there 🫂

06/14/2023

“When the shelling started, we would lie on the ground so we would not be killed.”

These are the words of Iliena. She’s from Mariupol, Ukraine.

“On the morning of February 24 [2022], I woke up and went to work … I haven't returned home since.”

The war in Ukraine forced Iliena to flee for her life. Along with 6 of her family members, she sought refuge in her sister's apartment.

As the shelling intensified, their electricity and heating was soon cut off. That’s when Iliena knew she and her family had to leave Ukraine. With help from a network of volunteers, they managed to escape.

“France welcomed us warmly… we received temporary protection status [there].”

Iliena and her family are now safe and have a space to call home. They are receiving help with food and other essentials, and her grandchildren are attending a nearby school. Whilst Iliena and her family feel safe in France, they hope to one day return home to Ukraine.

We thank all the peacebuilders who are supporting survivors of war like Iliena, helping them find safety and rebuild their lives 💙💛

05/18/2023

Say hello to Stella 👋

She’s from Ituri in DR Congo. Jobs are hard to come by in her community. Most people work in local gold mines, and many women are poorly paid.

Decades of armed conflicts have left hundreds of women like Stella as the sole breadwinners in their households. At one point she fell into debt to provide for her family.

But Stella's life changed forever when she met our partner, Centre Résolution Conflits (CRC). They gave her the skills and financial support to set up her own business. She now enjoys a stable income and has started saving for her own car.

“Thanks to CRC, I have a job that supports my family … I sell sugar, water and soap … [My business] allows me to pay my children's school fees on time, feed my family and cultivate my fields … May CRC do the same [for many] other women!”

We thank CRC for helping women like Stella learn new skills and follow their dreams.

05/11/2023

“I was waiting for the slightest opportunity to avenge [my family]!”

Meet Moses. He lives in Trikania, Nigeria.

In 2000, violence tore through his community. He lost loved ones and was forced to flee from his home. Filled with grief and anger: Moses wanted revenge.

That was before he met our partner, LEGASI. They brought Moses together with other young people from across his community whose lives had been shaped by violence.

“We were waiting for an opportunity to attack, but suddenly I was invited to a programme organised by LEGASI. The person that invited me was the person I was planning an attack with.”

LEGASI ran trainings for Moses focusing on forgiveness and healing. They helped him move past revenge, and begin thinking about his future.

“They kept talking about peace, so I decided to open my heart to them…”

Now Moses is teaching his community what LEGASI taught him. He’s passing on the importance of peace, forgiveness and healing.

Thank you LEGASI for being there for people like Moses, helping them to move forward after loss and begin rebuilding their lives 💚

04/20/2023

Say hello to Noella from North Kivu, DR Congo 👋

Farming was her only source of income. That was before fighting between local militias made the journey to her field too dangerous. Without money, her family soon fell into poverty.

But our partner, NPCYP, was there for Noella. Through their networks: They helped her get back on her feet. She began building a safer, more secure future for her family with their support.

Noella and 18 other survivors set up a bakery in their local community. She used her earnings from baking and selling bread to feed her family. Any profits she set aside to help set up her own flour-selling business.

"The money I earn from the bakery helped me set up my own business … allowing me to provide for my children's schooling needs and to manage the family [finances]...”

Noella now passes her baking skills on to other survivors, helping them become self-sufficient and keep food on their tables.

We thank NPCYP for being there for women like Noella, helping them learn new skills and gain financial independence.

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