Inspiring Roundtable with Kofi Annan Changemakers on Youth Involvement and Localisation in Peacebuilding

On Thursday, 21 November, the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, in collaboration with the Kofi Annan Foundation and Principles for Peace Foundation, hosted a roundtable thought-provoking discussion featuring three young and inspiring Kofi Annan Foundation Changemakers from Pakistan, Nigeria, and Brazil/Italy, who shared their experiences, struggles, and hopes, and engaged in an honest and fruitful dialogue with peacebuilders from our community in Geneva. 

The Kofi Annan Changemakers initiative supports young activists aged 20-30 who are making significant impacts in their communities. Each year, 12 to 14 changemakers are selected globally to participate in the program, which offers mentorship, microgrants, workshops, and dialogue sessions. This year, the Foundation welcomed its fourth cohort to Geneva for a week-long module from 18 to 22 November 2024, designed to connect changemakers with professionals in their fields for mentorship and collaboration. 

The three changemakers who shared their journeys and views during the roundtable were:

• Laura Pistarini (Brazil/Italy, based in Romania)

• Victor Okechukwu Chimezie (Nigeria, based in the UK)

• Sameer Ali Khan (Pakistan)

Their insights resonated with the Geneva peacebuilding community, whose participants on this occasion included:

• Eliza Urwin, Head of Research, Centre on Conflict, Development & Peacebuilding, and PhD Researcher in International Relations & Political Science

• Peter Batchelor, Director of Partnerships

• Shruti Satish, President of the Peacebuilding Initiative at the Geneva Graduate Institute

• Anja Tresse, Programme Manager– Youth & Peace at the Kofi Annan Foundation

• Cyprien Fluzin, Policy and Research Fellow at the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform

This inspiring and humbling roundtable underscored the importance of intergenerational collaboration and global-local partnerships in advancing peacebuilding efforts worldwide. The Geneva Peacebuilding Platform is proud to support initiatives that empower emerging leaders and foster meaningful exchanges for sustainable peace.