Equipping Peace Leaders Worldwide: 17 New Initiatives Funded

The Peace Practice Alliance (PPA) is more than a program—it’s a growing network of peace leaders committed to cultivating peace, transforming conflict, and ending violence in all forms. After completing the program, participants actively integrate peace leadership lessons and practices learned into their personal and professional lives. To support their work, graduates can apply for seed funding to launch or deepen community initiatives. Euphrates equips peace leaders with critical funds to lead peacebuilding efforts in their local communities, addressing and transforming root causes of violence and contributing to meaningful change.

We are excited to announce the funding of 17 initiatives in 11 countries led by 20 members of the 2024 PPA cohort. Some initiatives are joint efforts between PPA graduates and others are led by individual graduates in partnership with their communities and organizations. Initiatives address a variety of themes, including peace education, women's empowerment, art and media as peacebuilding tools, and economic empowerment, and more. Read on to learn more about these initiatives. We look forward to accompanying PPA peace leaders in their initiatives, and updating our global community of their impact along the way. 

Expansion of Honar Book Club for Afghan Students | Afghanistan

This project seeks to expand an online book club established by a PPA graduate serving Afghan students, providing access to global literature to promote critical thinking and peacebuilding through education. The initiative plans to add a YouTube channel for book reviews and establish small libraries at local universities to nurture a love of reading and peace-focused learning among Afghan youth. 

Peaceful Path to Victory | Afghanistan 

This project aims to provide educational opportunities for Afghan girls facing restrictions under the Taliban. The initiative will offer online learning platforms to teach digital skills and support girls in preparing for university applications abroad. By empowering girls through education, the project seeks to create pathways for independence and long-term success. 

Storybook: Voices of Afghan Women Under Taliban Rule | Afghanistan

This project plans to document the stories of eight Afghan women living under Taliban rule, highlighting their struggles, acts of resistance, and the experiences of those who have fled the country. The initiative will conduct online interviews to ensure participant safety while amplifying their voices through a book written in Farsi and translated into English. The book will be distributed both in Afghanistan and internationally to raise awareness about the challenges faced by Afghan women. 

Bridges to Hope: Afghan Girls Empowerment Initiative | Afghanistan

This project seeks to support Afghan girls who have dropped out of school due to socio-political pressures. Over two months, the initiative will provide workshops, peer support groups, and leadership training to help participants develop resilience and mental health coping mechanisms. By engaging families and the community, the project aims to empower these girls to regain autonomy and envision a brighter future. 

Intercultural Dialogue Education for Children | Cameroon

This initiative plans to address intergenerational violence by providing children with opportunities to develop critical thinking and resilience. The project will use intercultural dialogue and education to teach empathy and peace, creating a supportive space where children can learn peacebuilding values. The initiative will also involve parents and the broader community to enhance emotional and social skills in children while promoting peace. 

Patience in Practice | Ghana 

This project seeks to reduce youth conflict in Teshie, Ghana, by introducing personal peace practices through mindfulness and patience. By hosting bi-weekly group discussions, one-on-one mentoring, and guided meditation exercises, the initiative aims to foster emotional resilience and collaboration. Personalized mentorship and follow-ups will be provided to help youth apply these practices, leading to a reduction in conflict and improved understanding among participants.

Empowering Young Adolescent Girls through Peace Leadership | India

This initiative aims to empower adolescent girls in Rajasthan, India, by addressing gender and caste-based discrimination. The project will provide leadership and conflict resolution training through workshops, peer mentoring, and community engagement. It will support girls from vulnerable backgrounds in building self-confidence and resilience, while engaging the broader community in advocating for girls' education and empowerment. 

Establishing a Community of Peace Leaders in Kashmir | Kashmir

This project seeks to foster peace leadership among youth in Kashmir by engaging them through artistic storytelling, short films, and peace workshops. The initiative will involve local artists and photographers, promoting conflict resolution and trust-building in a region marked by political instability. Through this creative approach, the project aims to develop a new generation of peace advocates. 

Samview Foundation | Kenya

This project aims to uplift peace education as a tool for community development. School fees can often be a barrier to children regularly attending school. This project will offer peace education workshops to children whose families struggle to cover prohibitively expensive school fees. Through long-term accompaniment, this project aims to support a community of youth in Nairobi in having access to educational opportunities and growth. 

                                                         PPA 2024 COHORT

American University of Beirut Peace Club | Lebanon 

This initiative aims to create a peace club for university students in Lebanon to address the fear and uncertainty caused by regional conflict. The club will offer bi-weekly peace practice meetings, monthly workshops with local and international guest speakers, and community-based volunteering opportunities such as tutoring conflict-affected students. The club will focus on fostering dialogue, non-violent communication, and resilience, supporting students' mental health and academic success.

Sustainable Cooking Solutions for Interfaith Harmony and Environmental Conservation | Malawi

This initiative aims to promote environmental conservation and interfaith peacebuilding by training participants on how to create eco-friendly cooking stoves. By reducing deforestation and indoor air pollution, and fostering collaboration among individuals from different religious backgrounds, the project seeks to build environmental awareness and mutual understanding. It will help build a more peaceful, sustainable community through shared efforts to address environmental and social challenges.

Peace Leaders in Myanmar | Myanmar

This project plans to engage conflict-affected youth in Myanmar in peacebuilding through artistic expression. Workshops focused on painting, music, and drama will help youth process trauma and develop leadership and conflict resolution skills. By using art as a tool for dialogue and connection, the initiative aims to inspire a new generation of peace leaders capable of driving positive change in their communities.

Hope Rising: Empowering Vulnerable Youth for Healing and Resilience | Nigeria

This project plans to provide trauma-informed support to vulnerable youth in Benue State, Nigeria, who have experienced trauma, abuse, and financial instability. The initiative will offer emotional support, resilience-building workshops, and educational resources to help youth overcome these challenges. Community members, teachers, and mental health experts will be involved to ensure long-term guidance, empowering youth to break cycles of abuse and envision brighter futures. 

Empowering Futures Through Education | Nigeria

This initiative seeks to support children in Jos East, Nigeria, who have been impacted by communal, ethnic, and family conflicts. The project will provide educational resources such as books, uniforms, and stationery while also offering trauma-informed care to help the children heal emotionally. Teachers, parents, and community leaders will work together to build resilience in the children and support their academic and emotional growth. 

Introducing Peace Practice to Women Affected by Violence | Nigeria

This project is designed to assist women traumatized by violence, particularly those affected by Boko Haram insurgency and Fulani herdsmen attacks. Through sensitization sessions and one-on-one counseling, the initiative will help women heal emotionally and become more active in peacebuilding efforts. By engaging community women leaders and volunteers, the project aims to foster long-term peace and emotional recovery among the participants. 

Training Personal, Interpersonal Peace-Building & Entrepreneurship Skills | Sierra Leone

This initiative aims to assist war-affected families in Sierra Leone by providing training in personal peacebuilding and entrepreneurship skills such as soap-making and baking. The project hopes to foster emotional healing alongside economic empowerment, helping families build more peaceful lives while reducing domestic violence, early marriages, and drug abuse among youth. 

Peace Education through Rabbits Rearing | Uganda

This initiative plans to teach children values of peace and empathy through the activity of rabbit rearing. By caring for rabbits, children will learn responsibility, mindfulness, and interpersonal peace. The project will also engage religious communities to support children in developing the skills necessary for peaceful living and conflict resolution, with the goal of reducing school dropout rates.