By World BEYOND War, September 28, 2025

Peace Education and Action for Impact (PEAI) is a global peacebuilding and leadership program that weaves together youth-led, intergenerational, and cross-cultural learning, dialogue, and action at scale.

Since 2021, PEAI has connected and supported young people (aged 18–35), community members, and organizations in 19 countries across five continents.

Created and led by World BEYOND War, in collaboration with global and local partners, PEAI enters its 2025 iteration with nine country teams advancing this work.

Here are a few edited excerpts of reports from 2023 participants.

ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia has not been able to resolve ethnic conflicts in various parts of the country. The lack of a strong connection to our ancestral heritage has led to a gap in the knowledge and awareness of our cultural resources. Youth make up more than 60% of Ethiopia’s population of 120 million people! And the country lacks a strong system for youth participation in peacebuilding and associated activities. The lack of intergenerational transmission of indigenous knowledge to enable them to recognize and understand the ancestral values of peace and cultural reconciliation within each ethnic group and how to play their part in building lasting peace has helped make the youth of Ethiopia primary participants in and victims of conflict.

Each ethnic group in Ethiopia has its own language, jewelry, dress code, and delightful cultures and traditions in which the community lives in love and togetherness, bringing peace and harmony in case conflicts arise between coexisting communities. It is remarkable how the traditional reconciliation systems of all ethnic groups have been able to eliminate the resentment and fragmentation caused by conflicts and smooth the return to a healthy and peaceful relationship. The youth must be provided a conducive environment in which they can learn traditional values of reconciliation and become part of the solution by effectively using their potential for peace building.

Our PEAI project implemented a comprehensive solution, leveraging media platforms to invite Ethiopian youth nationwide to submit traditional peacekeeping methods, more than 200 papers, fostering intergenerational dialogue and amplifying youth voices. Additionally, a culture exchange program, held by The Ethiopian peace and reconciliation commission, facilitated direct interaction between youth and experienced peacebuilding practitioners. Through careful analysis and highlighting of submitted papers via local media channels, the project ensured broader access to traditional peacebuilding practices. By combining these strategies, it empowered youth as active participants in building lasting peace and fostering cultural reconciliation within each ethnic group.

The papers collected from the youth were translated and distributed to various institutions, including research institutes, journals, and publications. Integration of the papers into media platforms, art initiatives, and peace education programs was explored as a means to amplify their impact and ensure long-term sustainability. The project team engaged in lobbying efforts with the government, specifically focusing on promoting peace education initiatives. By advocating for the inclusion of peace education in the national curriculum, the project aimed to ensure the sustainability of peace building efforts beyond the project’s duration.

GHANA

The main problem addressed by our PEAI project in Ghana was the persistence of political violence, especially in the Odododiodio constituency, particularly during election periods, and its detrimental effects on the country’s stability, social cohesion, and development. Despite Ghana’s transition to democratic governance, instances of political violence continue to occur, endangering lives, causing infrastructure damage, and creating social and economic instability. The project recognized that youth are often disproportionately affected, and actively engaged young people to play a proactive role in promoting peace, dialogue, and non-violence. By addressing the root causes of political violence and involving youth in the process, the project sought to foster a more peaceful and inclusive democratic environment.

To begin, a thorough needs assessment was conducted to understand the specific context and dynamics of political violence in Odododiodio Consistency. The initiative adopted a multi-stakeholder approach, collaborating with local organizations, government agencies, and stakeholders such as Peace Jam Ghana and the Youth Unemployment Agency. This collaboration ensured a comprehensive and sustainable approach to addressing political violence. A series of workshops, training sessions, and awareness campaigns were implemented as part of the initiative. These activities covered important topics including conflict resolution, leadership skills, effective communication, and advocacy. By equipping the youth with these essential skills and knowledge, the initiative aimed to empower them to become agents of change in their communities. Additionally, efforts were made to build the capacity of local organizations involved in the project. This capacity building aimed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the initiative and create a model that could be replicated in other communities and regions of Ghana. The successful completion of this initiative has brought about positive transformation among the youth of Odododiodio Consistency. It has also served as a valuable blueprint for similar endeavors across the country, demonstrating the potential of investing in the youth and providing them with the necessary tools and opportunities.

We formed a youth-led advocacy group, consisting of passionate individuals committed to promoting peace, tolerance, and non-violence within their communities. WE produced campaign materials such as brochures and Manila cards having peace messages written on them. We increased participation of youth in peaceful political activities: voter registration, public debates, community forums, and advocacy campaigns. We equipped individuals with effective conflict resolution skills, promoting non-violent means of addressing conflicts and fostering peaceful dialogue and understanding.

One participant reported: “Joining the Peace Education Project was a turning point in my life. I come from a community deeply affected by conflict, and this project gave me hope for a better future. Through workshops, discussions, and interactive activities, I gained a deeper understanding of peacebuilding and the importance of active nonviolence. I now actively engage in peace initiatives within my community, working towards reconciliation and creating a society free from violence. The Peace Education and Action for Impact project has truly empowered me to be an agent of change.”

THE PHILIPPINES

There is a lack of peace education in the Philippine educational system, as well as a lack of peace in the Philippines, where children are abducted into the “New People’s Army.” We created a Peace Education Caravan as a way for peace education to be reintroduced to the public, especially to the marginalised communities.

We prepared transportation, food and drinks, and activities. Students became very engaged with the activities and topics we discussed. They were able to identify our eight pillars of peace and how to build peace within the self and with others. Prior to conducting the Peace Education Caravan, we conducted a survey in selected areas on knowledge of peace education. After the Caravan, a post-evaluation test found students had retained knowledge. The topics covered will slowly be integrated into course subjects in certain universities. The Central Philippine University is already applying the modules in its summer classes.

IRAQ

Our PEAI project examined the impact of international policies, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), on women’s involvement in peacebuilding in Iraq. Our project addressed gender inequality by advocating for women’s equal participation in peace processes, a historically neglected aspect in Iraq and elsewhere. Secondly, it underscored that sustainable peace necessitates women’s inclusion, as their unique insights enhance effective and comprehensive peacebuilding, addressing conflict’s root causes and preventing future violence. Thirdly, it emphasized the importance of international frameworks in advocating for women’s involvement in peacebuilding, stressing the need for effective implementation to protect women’s rights. Lastly, it identified challenges and opportunities, aiding policymakers and practitioners in designing more effective interventions tailored to Iraq’s specific context.

We produced a comprehensive research report summarizing the impact of international policies, such as UN Security Council Resolution 1325, on women’s roles in peacebuilding in Iraq. Additionally, the project generated evidence-based policy recommendations, training modules for capacity-building, public awareness campaigns, and established partnerships with local and international stakeholders. We documented best practices, and compiled case studies and reports on workshop outcomes.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

In our PEAI project, we addressed the problem of the lack of activism by young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Young people feel a lack of engagement due to the complicated political process, the lack of job opportunities, and the lack of formal education regarding the history of the war in the 90’s. These things impact young people’s behaviour who feel like they don’t have any prospects left but to leave the country. In other cases, they become politically active, but using hate speech and discrimination as a way of dehumanizing other ethnic groups, which does not help young people to move forward.

Our project aimed to emphasize the opinions of local non-governmental organizations regarding this problem. The purpose of the project was to reflect their solutions, promote their current beneficial work, and see if this problem is touched upon in their work. Even though many NGOs work in the field of peacebuilding, we still find many young people who don’t see a motive for their activism work. We found a number of NGOs that do not address this problem.

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