and mainstream media outlets ´ complicity with the current war industrial complex, they do not share positive stories by ordinary men and women in countries affected by conflicts who are working towards peace in their communities. Instead, these media outlets invest in fueling a propaganda machinery that further incentivize violence and polarize affected communities. My activist instincts became immediately preoccupied by this research finding and I felt the need to be involved. At that moment, I did not know what to do and how to go about it but I knew that I needed to do something to contribute to bridging this divide in social and mainstream media. However small my contribution would be, I was resolved to act.
In February 2016, I founded Peacemaker 360, a social media campaign that profiles and shares peace activists’ stories with three specific goals: inspire, connect, and amplify global peace activism efforts. With over 10,000 followers in almost two years, Peacemaker
360 has connected thousands of peace activists and continues to bridge the gap among peace professionals all around the world.
D: Peacemaking is a challenging and complicated task. You have conducted lots of interviews with young activists in the peacemaking field. Could you share a couple of ways that grassroots / young changemakers can effectively tackle this challenge?
C: Indeed peacemaking is a challenging and complex endeavor. It is even more complicated when young changemakers take up the challenge of promoting peace. This is because despite the passing of UNSCR 2250 in 2015, a UN framework recognizing young people as peace actors, there are still a lot of gaps in terms of the implementation of this framework in many countries. Nevertheless, young peacebuilders have remained resilient and are working hard in their own networks to creatively find spaces of engagement with decision makers in their respective contexts. I am convinced that the spirit of creativity and partnership among young peacebuilders can overcome challenges in the long run.
D: How do you compare the effectiveness of peacebuilding between a top-down approach( led by government and international organizations) and a bottom-up approach( in the community level)?
C: I think we need both approaches in sustaining peacebuilding efforts. What often makes these two models almost incompatible is the power imbalance in terms of who has the resources to implement peacebuilding efforts. Traditionally, there has been in both the humanitarian and the peacebuilding sector, a dependency syndrome to funding institutions. These institutions impose their conditions that may offset grassroots ´ efforts in responding to the real needs of the people. I am convinced that
10 Change Magazine