One Young World Peace Caucus: 'Achieving Sustainable Peace: On the Road to Stability'

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Building on One Young World’s long-standing peace initiative with the European Commission and following the success of the Bogota Caucus in June 2020 and the Kigali Caucus in March 2019, One Young World will bring together the most impactful peacebuilders to reflect on the challenges of climate security and existing conflicts, press freedoms in a social age, creating positive peace, and the definitive road towards a peaceful and sustainable future for all. 

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Saida Ibrahimava

Saida Ibrahimava is the Co-founder and Director of Youth to Youth Initiative, former One Young World Coordinating Ambassador for Eastern Europe/Asia, Founder Institute and OXFiD mentor, speaker, and coach on social entrepreneurship, youth leadership, and PVE/CVE activities. She has been engaging in youth development field for almost two decades now, supporting young people globally in their efforts to positively change their societies, design meaningful campaigns, and turn their ideas into sustainable projects. 

She is a graduate of Charles University in Prague, UNAOC and John Smith Trust Fellow, HKFYG CoCreators trainer. She is passionate about art, design, activism and leadership, peacebuilding and sustainability.

Peter Blodau

Peter Blodau was born in Berlin to parents who were both artists and grew up in County Limerick in Ireland. He graduated in Fine Art Printmaking at Limerick School of Art and started his professional life as an artist in Paris where he exhibited in situ drawing and painting created on the streets of that city at the art fairs. 

He continued with printmaking, working in the famous Champfleury Printworkshop in Paris. In the early 1990s, he moved on to Berlin, where he continued to sell and exhibit work, as well as printmaking at the Bethanien studios, and to travel for more subject matter. The olive groves of Greece, the streets of Cuba, and the highways of the United States were all subjects that inspired him, both for the human stories and the colour and contrasts of those different landscapes. He returned to Paris in the early 2000s and alongside his work as an artist he worked as an illustrator, completing many reportage illustrations for corporate clients. In 2014 he moved to Cairo to work at the German University in Cairo where he lectured in Drawing and illustration.

He is currently working as a freelance illustrator and Graphic Recorder between Germany and England.

Kate Robertson

Kate is the co-founder of One Young World - the global forum for young leaders that identifies, promotes and connects the world's most impactful activists to create a better world, with more responsible and effective leadership.

The annual One Young World Summit convenes the brightest young talent from every country and sector, working to accelerate social impact. Delegates from 190+ countries are counselled by influential political, business and humanitarian leaders such as Justin Trudeau, Paul Polman and Meghan Markle, amongst many other global figures.

Kate was formerly the Global President and UK Group Chairman of Havas Worldwide. 

In 2012 she was named Advertising Woman of the Year by Women in Marketing and in 2014 was similarly honoured by Advertising Week Europe. In 2014 she received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Lausanne along with Unilever's Paul Polman.

In 2017, Kate was awarded the Corporate Citizenship Award from British American Business.

Kate is also the co-author of How to Make a Difference: The Definitive Guide from the World's Most Effective Activists - a unique and practical guide to modern day activism which includes advice and experience from some of the world's leading campaigners.

Dr Kyungmee Kim

Dr Kyungmee Kim is a Researcher at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s Climate Change and Risk Programme, where she focuses on climate change and conflict, and environmental peacebuilding. In 2021, she received her PhD in Peace and Conflict Research from Uppsala University after completing her dissertation, titled ‘Civil Resistance in the Shadow of War: Explaining Popular Mobilization against Dams in Myanmar’. She is a member of the Research School for International Water Cooperation at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, which is part of the UNESCO Center for Water Cooperation. Prior to her doctoral research, Dr Kim worked on international water cooperation and civil society empowerment at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).

Zara Huseynova

Zara Huseynova is a serial entrepreneur, and currently is Head of Business Development in Europe, Central Asia and MENA for Terraformation Inc., a global forest accelerator working to reverse climate change through native forest restoration.

She has founded 7 companies in the retail and education industries and was recognized as one of Forbes 30 under 30 in Europe 2019, in the Social Entrepreneur category.

Neeshad Shafi

Neeshad is a young environmentalist, speaker, and policy-oriented social change advocate, best known for his work on environmental and climate change activism and policy in the Gulf and Arab region in the Middle  East. An active youth civil society member and has been a prominent presence at international climate summits especially UN Climate Summit (COP’s) since 2015 on various capacities, including the role of youth for climate action.  He holds a master’s degree in Energy & Environmental Engineering and is based in Doha, Qatar. In March 2019, he was named in the Apolitical’s List of the 100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy 2019.  

Neeshad is a TEDx Speaker and Agenda Contributor for the World Economic Forum. His articles and interviews have appeared in Al Jazeera, BBC, Washington Post, Guardian, Anadolu Agency, Inside Arabia, The Gulf  Times, Qatar Tribune, Qatar Today, Peninsula Qatar, and others.  

Neeshad is currently the Co-founder & Executive Director of the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar, a  registered youth lead non-profit Environmental Association in the State of Qatar. He is a Board Member at Climate  Action Network (CAN) Arab World and CoalitionWILD. He is on the steering committee of Global Shapers Climate and Environment; UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network (YoU-CAN) and UNEP Youth Regional Facilitator for the  Middle East.

Jhanisse Vaca Daza

Jhanisse Vaca Daza is co-founder of Ríos de Pie, a non-violent citizen movement focused on human rights and environmental rights in Bolivia. She is also 2021 Peace Ambassador for One Young World & the European Commission, and Network Manager for the Human Rights Foundation & Oslo Freedom Forum. Jhanisse began teaching nonviolence in Bolivia at the age of 23, which later led to the creation of a youth nonviolence movement: Ríos de Pie (Standing Rivers in English). Standing Rivers played a key role in driving humanitarian efforts during the Amazon fires crisis in 2019-2021 and the COVID crisis in Bolivia. More importantly, they educated thousands of Bolivians in nonviolence resistance which were deployed in numerous protests in the country. Jhanisse obtained her honors bachelor’s degree at Kent State University, where she studied International Relations thanks to scholarships. She subsequently completed the Nonviolent Movement Leadership for Social Progress & Leadership in Crisis online programs at Harvard Kennedy School. 

Dalia Yousif

Dalia is a postgraduate student at Imperial College London Business School, she worked as a Business Developer for the Ministry of Industry and Trade - Sudanese for Consumer Goods and as Cooperatives coordinator; she is also a social entrepreneur who runs a social startup called "Ask Me". She is passionate about reducing the impact of poverty in Sudan, providing a decent livelihood for Sudanese people, and she seeks to reach her country to economical, governmental, and social stability. Dalia believes in the power of young people in developing the nations, thus, she is working now to reach a leading position in the Sudanese government, but recently, a military coup took place in her country, and with millions of Sudanese people inside and outside Sudan she refused the military repression of the civilian government representatives and the citizens. Hence, she will deliver to the world the details of the violence the military are doing in Sudan now after the coup, the peaceful response of Sudanese people, and the power of peace we are using as protestors to reach our target which is making Sudan "a leading country in the world - علمآ بين الأمم".

Ramiz Bakhtiar

Ramiz Bakhtiar is a One Young World Ambassador and the Founder of the global Network of Former Youth Delegates to the United Nations. He was Afghanistan’s first Youth Representative to the United Nations in 2018/19. His journey towards youth leadership started several years ago, when he joined the Emerging Civil Society Leaders program, a network of aspiring community leaders from across Afghanistan, and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Young Leaders Forum, a multidisciplinary program on youth’s social and political engagement at local, regional, and global levels.

Ramiz is a consistent speaker in conferences, events, and round tables on the importance of youth participation at all levels of decision making, local peacebuilding and SDG16. His vision is underpinned by a decade of experience in youth inclusion and participation, civic education, and peacebuilding. With his passion and experience, Ramiz is in the trenches working toward a more just, inclusive, and peaceful world.

Rešid Dževdetbegović

Rešid Dževdetbegović is originally from Bosnia-Herzegovina, but has lived in Vienna, Austria for the last couple of months, working at Bank Austria AG - Unicredit International Center Austria. 

He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations at Istanbul University and currently is a graduate student of Interdisciplinary Joint Master’s Program in South-Eastern European Studies at the University of Belgrade & University of Graz. 

During his studies, he participated in many seminars and trainings and has also been a scholar of Türkiye Bursları, Erasmus+, CEEPUS and GoStyria.

He is the coordinator and responsible person of the Peace Caravan project. The project was implemented within the PRO-Budućnost (PRO-Future) program sponsored by CRS and USAID. The project aims to visit numerous municipalities in Bosnia-Herzegovina to pay respect to all the civilian victims of the war, regardless of their ethnic and religious background.

He is also the Bosnia-Herzegovina Youth Ambassador in the Global Coalition for the Right to Peace, Bosnia-Herzegovina delegate at Ubuntu United Nations Academy and participant of IEP Peace Ambassador Program.

He is a young leader with international experience, and is also an awarded debater, NGO activist, and volunteer, devoted to become an important policy-maker in the future.

Valeria Gomez Palacios

Valeria Gomez Palacios is a Nicaraguan public policy professional with demonstrated experience
working with Latin American governments, research centers, the nonprofit sector, and multilateral
organizations.

She is the co-founder of Global Emergency Response and Assistance, an organization that works to provide assistance and community development to those affected by conflicts. Valeria currently serves as a consultant for organizations advancing civic engagement through action-oriented policy solutions and that work to implement evidence-based solutions to urban violence. Previously, she worked at the Organization of American States to facilitate access to justice for marginalized communities in Latin America. Valeria is a One Young World and European Commission Peace Ambassador and also serves as a Civil Society Representative to the United Nations, where she serves as an advocate to generate political will to safeguard human rights in Latin America. She holds a Masters in International Affairs with a concentration in Economic and Political Development and a regional focus in Latin America from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Science in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University.

Pedro Salvador Fonseca

Pedro Salvador Fonseca is a professional of Politics and International Relations with a Master´s Degree in Conflict Resolution, Peace, and Development from the United Nations Mandated-University for Peace. In 2020 he was selected as a Peace Ambassador by the European Commission and One Young World, and represented Nicaragua at the OYW Summit in Munich. His expertise in International Politics and Peace and Conflict Studies has taken him to work from three main platforms: NGO, International Organizations, and Academia.

Besides his work as a consultant to the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C., he has been a Professor at the School of Law and International Relations of Universidad Americana in Managua, Nicaragua. Also, he has been Program Coordinator for multiple social initiatives related to Political Education, Gender Studies, and Conflict Transformation, and currently, he is Political Coordinator of the Electoral Citizen Observatory Urnas Abiertas and Academic Coordinator of RenovaPatria.

In addition to this, Pedro holds studies in International Cooperation, Sustainable Development, Leadership and is an LGBT+ activist.

Emerson Salguero

Emerson Salguero is a young leader in citizenship affairs. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations with a specialization in Public Policy and works as a Consultant in youth and public affairs. In 2019, he was selected as a Peace Ambassador by the European Commission and One Young World and represented Guatemala at the OYW Summit in London for his contribution to avoid political radicalism by opening spaces for youth, electoral information, and his leadership.

In 2018, he founded with his friends, the organization “Involúcrate” that focuses on creating networks of citizen participation, democratic processes, a culture of peace, and political advocacy for youth. Emerson and his team have involved more than 10,000 young people through projects such as an electoral information campaign with a reach of 700 students; 13 political forums #TuVotoCuenta with 15 presidential candidates for young people to develop a more informed vote and debate of ideas, impacting 1,000 people; and a digital campaign and magazine #ElCongresoNoSeDejaEnVisto to educate about the importance of the Congress of the Republic that had an audience of 8,000 people.

Emerson is co-author of the book “We Have A Dream” published by the World Dream Project. This book brings together 201 inspiring stories of dreamy leaders from 201 countries with a common goal: to make the world a better place for everyone. Emerson shares his dream entitled "More youth in politics". Recently, he returned to the OYW Summit in Munich for his trajectory in political incidence and citizen participation.

Michelle George

Michelle is the founder of, a social business based in Luxembourg that empowers individuals and startups to solve their human potential riddle for positive impact. Coming from a Psychological background, she has years of experiencing when it comes to Coaching the mind. Lately she joined frei.gehege as a co-founder with Maarten, a group that focuses on physiology first.

Michelle believes that every individual is unique and that with the right circumstances and support everyone can be a changemaker. She is convinced that a stat of inner peace generates energy that translates itself through words and actions into outer peace.

Maarten Hemmen

Maarten wears many hats, but all of them serve a clear purpose. Throughout his life Maarten has made many experiences, starting from being a competitive athlete in Martial Arts as a child, studying music later, touring the world and then turning his back on everything to study ancient methods of breathing, yoga, cold exposure and movement, running ultramarathons and climbing frozen mountains in shorts.

“I think peace starts within yourself, getting to really know yourself, find your limits, accept everything, find connection, and then work towards change”.

Paula Gaviria Betancur

Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur is the executive director of Compaz Foundation and a member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement. She is a lawyer and journalism specialist, with postgraduate degrees in public opinion and political marketing.

She is the former Presidential Advisor for Human Rights in Colombia and former director of The Victims Unit.  Ms. Paula Gaviria was actively involved in the drafting of the victims’ chapter on the Final Peace Agreement signed between the Colombian Government and the FARC-EP, where she advocated the inclusion of the victims’ voices in the dialogue process.

Lucero Muñoz

Lucero Muñoz is a psychologist, specialist in International Cooperation and Project Management for Development with a Master's Degree in Research and Psychosocial Intervention in Communities from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She is focused on the development of Non-Profit Organizations, Project Management, and is passionate about community development and strengthening, youth development, working with multidisciplinary teams. She has experience in volunteer management, event management, and social entrepreneurship.

She is currently the Coordinating Ambassador for Colombia of One Young World, with a network of more than 200 Colombian ambassadors who are currently generating a positive impact on the development of the country from the different SDGs. In parallel, she is the Executive Director of the Catalina Muñoz Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides habitat solutions and community development through public-private partnerships and the management of corporate and youth volunteering to improve the quality of life of vulnerable populations in Colombia.

Lali Fernando Riasco

Laly is a 19 year old young man from Guapi, a municipality in the department of Cauca in Colombia. He is part of the Communications Network of Children, Adolescents and Youth of Guapi, a project that seeks to empower young people on issues related to citizen participation, communication, advocacy and peace building.

In his childhood, Laly was a victim of the armed conflict due to multiple clashes between insurgent groups in the Colombian Pacific. However, he is a leader who promotes reconciliation and forgiveness. 

Through the Network, Laly works to promote changes that have a positive impact on the social and personal lives of the children he mentors.

Jorge Santiago Avila Corrales

Santiago Avila is a social worker with a master's degree in juvenile justice and defense of the rights of minors, and is the director of the Youth Organization Against Violence in Honduras. Nine years ago, members of organized crime killed his brother and that turned his life and that of his family around.

Everything he does in his organization is to prevent other young people and families from having to live what he and his family lived through. The main work is to develop creative strategies to steer young people away from the world of crime through violence prevention. He develops political advocacy for new laws in favor of youth and internal displacement forced by violence.

Ngawang Gyeltshen

Ngawang ‘Sennin’ Gyeltshen is a business leader from the Kingdom of Bhutan. As an interdisciplinary thinker, Ngawang is involved in the fields of precision agriculture, creative industry development and the blockchain ecosystem. He is the Founder and Chief Executive of Bhutan Food - a food ecosystem development startup founded with the vision to help Bhutan become 100 % organic. He is also an Akoin Ambassador; Akoin is a cryptocurrency developed by Grammy-nominated artist and philanthropist Akon. 

Ngawang is a One Young World Peace Ambassador.

Ahlem Nasraoui

Ahlem Nasraoui is an accomplished leader, serial awardee, and influencer for inclusive youth engagement with marginalized groups. After finishing her Masters' degree in Business Communication she worked to support the Tunisian Democratic Transition. Ms. Nasraoui is the founder of the Young Leaders Entrepreneurs Association, which has managed hackathons, boot camps, and startups supporting the democratic transition through youth leadership coaching. In 2016, she was selected by the State Department as a top 10 young emerging leader. She is currently pursuing a Masters's degree in Security, Peacebuilding, and Diplomacy at Loughborough University, London as part of the 20/21 Chevening Scholarship cohort.

Bjørn Ihler

Bjørn Ihler is an internationally renowned expert in countering and preventing radicalization into violent extremism through the design of healthier communities on and off-line. Ihler is also a member of the group Extremely Together working under the Kofi Annan Foundation to empower youth internationally to challenge violent extremism in their local communities and work against radicalisation across the globe. His most recent appointment as of July 2020 is as Chairperson of the Independent Advisory Committee of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.

Through his international work, Ihler has among others worked with and advised both local organizations, national governments and international institutions such as the EU, OSCE and the UN to develop strategies to more effectively prevent radicalisation into violent extremism that may lead to terrorism, and build more peaceful communities.

Elsie Harry

Elsie Harry is a 29-year old, Community Development Practitioner, with a Master of Engineering Degree in Urban and Rural Planning.

For the past seven years, she has served as an advocate for people of African descent, especially those residing in marginalized African-Guyanese communities. She is currently the Sustainable Community Development Officer at the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana NGO.

She is a mentor for young adults and recently launched the “This is Your Life Movement”, to offer pro bono mentorship and other personal development services to teens and young adults from vulnerable communities, to promote the pursuit of intentional, purposeful living.

Elsie is also a Spoken Word Artist who uses her craft to address social issues in a meaningful way and to issue calls to action to her peers. In 2020 she won a finalist award in Guyana’s National Drama Festival. She also enjoys writing about Guyanese culture, which is unfamiliar to persons in some parts of the world. She hopes that her words will not only reach the ears of the masses but will ignite change.

Diana Cortés

Diana is a young dancer from Tumaco, a municipality in the Nariño department in Colombia, and she is the founder of a dance company called Pacific Dance.

Pacific Dance is a cultural organization that was born in Tumaco Nariño on April 10, 2011 with the objective of providing meaningful art spaces for children and young people who are at risk and vulnerable by the various manifestations of violence given mainly by the presence of the armed conflict in the territory and young people who are at risk and vulnerability by the various manifestations of violence given mainly by the presence of the armed conflict in the territory.

The organization was born as an alternative for the reconstruction of the social fabric, dance became a fundamental strategy for the transformation and re-signification of the territory.

At Pacific Dance, boys, girls and young people meet three times a week to learn new dance step and choreographies, managing to make dance an option to stay away from conflict. Diana has succeeded in creating a strategy to prevent the recruitment of children by illegal armed groups, consolidating a peace-building mechanism in Tumaco.