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1 2 Introduction

The impact of the University for Peace now working in international careers. (UPEACE) can be measured by the work of our alumni, which is one of the Although we were careful to represent reasons why we wanted to showcase alumni from different corners of the some of their success stories. UPEACE world, master’s degree programmes, and alumni are leading advocates for peace gender identities, the stories showcased and justice in the fields of human rights, here are only a few of the many excellent gender, environment, development examples of UPEACE alumni making and international cooperation. We, as a difference in the world and finding an institution, are very proud of their success in their personal and professional accomplishments. lives. These stories were chosen through consultation with UPEACE faculty and This publication presents a collection the alumni themselves. The final result of stories from our alumni about the is a compilation of experiences that our challenges they have overcome in current and future students can use to their professional lives, and how their guide their aspirations. experiences at UPEACE helped to prepare them for success. Overall, our alumni We would like to thank all of our alumni have shown that they are prepared to for putting the name of UPEACE in such undertake any task in their profession, high regard, and especially those who from field work to policy making, from have participated in this project. Their education to diplomacy. This versatility stories inspire our work every day and provides a very important advantage in affirm to us that this is indeed a worthy today’s world. institution in today’s world.

The experience of studying in a University for Peace multicultural setting offers another El Rodeo benefit to our students and alumni; they San José, Costa Rica are all able to work anywhere in the world 2014 with a global vision and the experience of dealing with cultural differences. These stories come from alumni from 30 countries; a good number of them are

3 The Alumni Network

The University for Peace alumni network percentage of our alumni network work covers many regions of the world. This for non-governmental organisations but network has helped spread the UPEACE many of our graduates go on to work message by engaging its members in in the United Nations system and in dialogues, meetings, sharing of job various other international humanitarian opportunities and other activities. Alumni capacities. Some now teach at the can benefit from their peers who are University level and work for academic working in similar positions and have a institutions, while others have joined common ideal. their national governments in diverse and influential fields such as international Students at UPEACE receive a unique and affairs, electoral tribunals, and rigorous education which allows them environmental policy. Another significant to engage with leading academics and portion of our alumni community is expert practitioners. UPEACE alumni pursuing doctoral degrees. offer a distinctive comparative advantage to potential employers. The students The Alumni community is multicultural, represent an outstanding diverse and multinational, pluriprofessional and multicultural group. Every year they are diverse. UPEACE Alumni are recognized exposed to specialized relevant training for their cultural sensitivity, creativeness, by professionals of the United Nations analytical capacities and, especially, their system, international organizations commitment to Peace. and non-governmental organizations, with whom they can have a meaningful dialogue.

The University for Peace alumni live and work in every region of the world. The vast majority of alumni work in peace-building capacities in their home countries and internationally, often on the front line of conflict situations. Currently, the greatest

4 Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa

Somalia

Natural Resources and Peace, 2010 General-Director of Somali Observatory of Conflict and Violence Prevention (OCVP) www.ocvp.org

Since graduating from UPEACE on July development with almost every course 2010 I have been working on areas of having field trip component that helped peacebuilding and state building in me better understand and apply these Somali/Somaliland at various capacities. theories though interaction with people The greatest challenges that I have facing these challenges in their real day- been faced while working and engaging to-day life and experience and comparing Somali conflict from its highest level and and contrasting these real experiences interacting with most senior Somali actors from the field for the theories discussed as well as international actors supporting during the class. In addition to this, my Somalis to break cycle of more than 20 interaction with other students draw years old Somali conflict have been the from more than 50 countries across world complexity and multi-dimensionality of while at UPEACE help me to be truly Somali conflict, it informed by scarcity international person capable of going of resources, competition for power along with and intractable with people and resources, weak institutions, lack from different background, beliefs and common national vision, environmental cultures. degradation, regional and international interferences, organized arm groups I am current leading the largest and proliferation of small arms and light and most strategic research and weapons. Making harder for one to design training organization in Somali, the specific intervention and solution to the Somali Observatory of Conflict and Somali crises. Violence Prevention(OCVP) that has its Headquarter in Hargeisa, Somaliland and During my Master’s Degree in Natural having satellite offices in other regions of Resources and Peace at UPEACE I was Somalia including the war turned Somali trained to articulate and critique key capital city , Mogadishu with more than theoretical and conceptual dimensions 35 regular staff. related to natural resources and

5 Adam Norikane

USA

Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, 2006 Agriculture Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Throughout my career I have had the towards a common goal. In northern Kenya, opportunity to work on development issues I worked to find solutions to water shortages in several post-conflict countries. Many of for livestock and agriculture that would the challenges in these countries are directly benefit both the refugee community and the linked to the impact of the conflict. There neighboring host communities. I find myself are former combatants dealing with the thinking not only about ways to increase psychological hardship of readjusting to food security through an agricultural lens, civilian life, and the people trying to integrate but also through a conflict resolution lens. I into a market economy when the last formal believe this leads to more enduring solutions education they had received was from early to the task of reducing global food insecurity. primary school. The biggest challenge for me was finding ways to adapt our I am currently working in the U.S. Foreign developmental approach to the sometimes Service on initiatives and programs to non-literate and innumerate population, combat hunger and malnutrition in the as well as tailoring interventions in a way different countries that I am posted. I that mitigated existing tension either primarily focus on the implementation between ethnic groups or between refugee of President Obama’s Feed the Future populations and their host communities. initiative, whose objectives are to reduce the prevalence of poverty and of stunting in My exposure to the UPEACE community children under five years of age by 20 percent of staff and students helped shape my over five years. In 2010, I started up USAID understanding of conflict resolution and Food for Peace’s cash-based emergency food peace studies. The professionals I studied security program and I continue to advise on with hailed from all around the world, but development food assistance programs that all shared the vision of a peaceful world. The target some of the over 800 million people challenges that I faced in working towards suffering from chronic hunger today. One of food security for post-conflict communities my passions is designing and implementing sometimes required an understanding activities that actively address gender of reconciliation and peace-building. For inequity to more effectively achieve the instance, in South Sudan I found myself nutrition and poverty alleviation goals that working across ethnic groups to break we work towards. down barriers and build a community of agricultural specialists who all worked 6 Adilia Caravaca

Costa Rica

Gender and Peace Building, 2004 International President of WILPF (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom)

The greatest challenge that I have faced in my professional life has been little institutional support, locally. UPEACE contributed to face this challenge by feeling confidence to explain, to persuade, to encourage, to promote ideas of conflict resolution and the importance to mainstream them.

I currently oversee compliance of international program (related to Women, Peace and Securiy UN Agenda, multilateral cooperation and promoting investment on peace), coordinate with sections all around the world before emerging issues about peace, women, armed conflict, prevention, food security.

7 Adolphe Kilomba Sumaili

Democratic Republic of Congo

International Law and the Settlement of Disputes, 2011 PhD Candidate at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium)

The greatest challenge faced in my I am currently doing my PhD at the Vrije personal experience after UPEACE was in Universiteit Brussel (VUB)/Free University terms of helping people to understand of Brussels. I am working on transitional that they can solve their problems justice as a mechanism of disputes without suing each other. In other settlement in the African Great Lakes words, bringing them to not escalate but region: the case of DR Congo. negotiate and mediate.

UPEACE improved significantly my capacities in conflict resolution in terms of negotiation, mediation and conciliation as well as adjudication. UPEACE has practically defined my area of expertise. Thanks to the UPEACE MA programme, I learned to develop alternative dispute resolution instead of adjudication which was so far the most developed method in the Great Lakes region. Thanks to the UPEACE background, I have decided to do my PhD in transnational justice in order to further develop it as an alternative mechanism of disputes settlement in the Great Lakes region.

8 Amel A-Fadil Aldehaib

Sudan

Gender and Peace Building, 2008 PhD Candidate- Gender, Race, and Social Justice, University of British Colombia

My greatest challenges in peace education Lastly, learning in a multicultural setting and gender justice, especially within with peers and staff from around the the Africa context, are how to address world was a great asset. Activities that conflicting narratives and belief systems took place outside classrooms included of different cultures that ultimately cultural events and exchanges, which were translate to violence, specifically against great learning experiences, and were very marginalized groups (based on gender, useful when I had to travel, live, work, and race/ethnicity, religion…etc). Also on how learn in countries other than my home to reconcile tensions in the way that country. human rights are articulated, understood, and practiced between local and Upon graduation from UPEACE in 2008, I international human rights advocates and worked with Oxfam Canada in the Horn actors and the complexities of evoking of Africa region, as well as with UNICEF in cultural relativism discourse by some Yemen in the Middle East region. I worked communities in Africa in regard to gender with civil society organizations in building justice and human rights in general. their capacity to predominantly address gender justice and peace building. I am At UPEACE, I was introduced to various now a PhD Candidate at the University theoretical debates and practice-centered of British Columbia (UBC), in Vancouver, dialogues around global conflict, which Canada, in the Institute for Gender, Race, challenged my knowledge in many ways. Sexuality, and Social Justice. My research I was able to both learn new ways of interests are in nationalism, racialized thinking and unlearn outdated practices violence, and postcolonial African states. in peace education and gender justice. While studying, I work as a Teaching I had opportunities to understand and Assistant. analyze the complexities of local and global power relations. As a result, I was able to design and produce innovative resource materials to facilitate workshops and trainings with different civil societies, as well as conduct community based research around conflict and peace.

9 A-Young Moon

Republic of Korea

Peace Education, 2012 Representative, Peace Education Project MOMO www.peacemomo.org

Dismantling this dichotomy is the among UPEACE community was a fruitful most difficult challenge. The context of and meaningful journey of learning. It is division in Korean peninsula has deeply very easy to be narrow-minded in my little inhabited in Korean’s general perception world, but the cultural exposure that I and understanding on the concept of was needed to face at UPEACE made me peace. In some sense, dichotomy between fully realize the fact, when you are with North and South Korea, Democracy 10 people together, there are 10 different and Socialism, The right and The left cultures existing. strengthens the national identity and I am a founder and representative of a is a source of never-ending ideological non-profit organization, Peace Education conflict. This bisectional perspective can Project MOMO. Mainly MOMO offers justify culture of violence against ‘them’ or peace education training programs for ‘others’ who are not considered as ‘us’ and school teachers and civil society activists. has influenced a lot on the fossilization of Also MOMO has established ‘MOMO the concept of peace in Korean society Peace College’ which offers intensive peace studies and peace education course. UPEACE was a great place to experience Since its establishment, MOMO has ‘diversity’ on daily basis. Dealing and living been meeting with approximately 3,200 with the very existing cultural differences participants.

10 Bijal Vachharajani

India

Environmental Security and Peace, specialization on Climate Change and Security, 2012 Writer

I think one of the greatest challenges urban children. I did this in a way that that India currently faces is the “so-called helped bridge the disconnect between the Environment versus Development” debate. community of scientists and practitioners Further, the way the media covers these and our readers. Cutting through heavy debates often leaves a lot to be desired academic words, we scoured our local for. This has been something that I have spaces for answers instead. followed very closely for many years now. As the editor of Time Out Bengaluru, My experience at UPEACE, where I learnt one of the country’s best art and cultural with a group of faculty and students magazine, I was able to look at the way who were from around the world helped media reports on environmental issues as enrich my experience while studying and well children issues. I am now a consultant it impacts anything I do. As the editor of with Fairtrade India and writing a book on one of the country’s best art and cultural the environment for children. magazine, I was able to look at the way media reports on environmental issues as well children issues. Helming a team, I was able to generate cover stories as well as features on Eating Local, Urban sustainable development and the need for it, as well as Food security for children – that is healthy eating practices for

11 Carlos Rosas Vargas

Peru Costa Rica

Recursos Naturales y Desarrollo Sostenible, 1993 Head of the Department of Natural Resources of the Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (Costa Rican National Company of Power and Electricity)

The topic that I work with has a lot to do with aspects that involve conflict resolution and mediation, my emphasis is in watershed management and you need to work with several actors, where those skills have to be applied.

The training I got at UPEACE in conflict resolution and mediation has been instrumental, it has enable me to apply them on my everyday tasks.

I lead the Department of Natural Recourses of the Environmental Unit at the National Company. I focus on Carlos Rosas is second from left. conservation, reforestation, use of environmentally friendly alternatives, proper use of natural resources and clean technologies.

12 Casey Harrison

USA

Natural Resources Management & Sustainable Development, 2011 Program Officer at WWF-US (Private Sector Engagement)

As a member of World Wildlife Fund UPEACE offered me an opportunity to (US), working with the Private Sector improve my ability to actively listen, Engagement team through our while participating in discussions international Market Transformation without missing the bigger picture. The Initiative, I have found myself in multi- bigger picture often varies, and could stakeholder processes that attempt to be a sustainable system for Palm Oil find consensus amongst traditionally production, or a system of capitalism opposed, and uncommunicative, interest that incorporates all the social and groups. For example, the needs and environmental externalities of production desires of a multinational corporation and dismissed by current macro and micro those of an environmental organization economic practices across the globe. are not generally aligned. Thus, it has been my role to act as a mediator for the My primary job responsibilities include extreme ideologies found in each of these global agricultural research and unique groups, and the institutions that partnership content lead. The research represent them. At WWF-US our goal is I conduct focuses on global agro- to find the nexus between environmental commodity production, processing, trade goals for ecosystems and stakeholders and retail along different commodity, or and the financial needs of multinational crop, life cycles and value chains from companies; thus devising strategies to producer to consumer. As a content lead simultaneously mitigate corporate risk I assist our private sector engagement and protect the environment and people team in consultations and discussions from exploitation. with corporate and public sector partners. My experiences in Costa Rica interacting Patience, empathy and a strong with agricultural systems, as well as, understanding of the facts make for a previous experiences working with solid mediator, and these are qualities smallholder farmers in Zambia, allows me that I honed in the classrooms at UPEACE to bring vital stakeholder perspectives to working and debating with colleagues WWF’s discussions and consultations with from diverse backgrounds and socio- global partners. cultural perspectives.

13 Celine Mukamurenzi

Rwanda

Peace Education, 2011 Academic Director, SIT-Study Abroad, a program of World Learning

In my job, I facilitate the learning process fact that I lived with people from different of a minimum of 50 American students nationalities all over the world, I always who come to Rwanda to do their study feel confident working in a multicultural abroad program entitled as Rwanda: Post environment. UPEACE had also taught Genocide Restoration and peacebuilding. me to value hard work and to perform The main challenge I face are the cultural under minimum supervision; I learnt differences (difficult for my students to time management skills, perfectionism, adjust with the local culture) and the self-management, and environmental difficulties for students to understand consciousness, to mention but a few. I am the rationale of different mechanisms of using these skills to succeed in my work. conflict resolution that are locally initiated Without UPEACE experience, my story (since they are used to classical judicial would be completely different. system, and human rights standards). I am the program Director, the country Celine Mukamurenzi is sitting at the desk In UPEACE I learnt how to respect other Representative of an American NGO facilitating a session people’s culture; I learnt that knowledge (therefore doing some diplomatic work), has to be contextualized and that I am a teacher (facilitator) and I ensure a there is no body that has the absolute successful academic semester of American capacity to create knowledge. I learnt undergraduate students who come to how to value indigenous knowledge Rwanda every semester (Fall, Spring and including indigenous mechanisms of Summer). As the head of a local team, I conflict resolution and mediation. All this do administrative work (including human knowledge, skills and values are being resource management and finance) at applicable in my work by daily basis. The supervision level.

14 Craig Brannagan

Canada

International Law and the Settlement of Disputes, 2006 Police & Criminal Defence Lawyer

which understands, values, and places of international justice. “In addition to an extraordinary emphasis on the my volunteer activities with the CCIJ, I importance of resolving disputes serve as the Chair of the International peacefully and respectfully, I can say that Humanitarian Law (IHL) Working Group my time at UPEACE has certainly exposed with the Canadian Red Cross Society. Most me to many different personalities, recently, I was selected by the American from every walk of life and background. Bar Association & United Nations This has assisted me in my approach Development Program’s International to communicating with others, and Legal Resource Center as a “Junior Expert” particularly in dealing with persons who on a Panel of International Experts to hold values and opinions which differ assist the UNDP/Sierra Leone in providing from my own or those of my clients. an external review with technical legal advice to the Government of Sierra Leone I was called to the Bar in the Province regarding proposed amendments to the of Ontario, Canada, in 2011, and I have country’s 1964 Police Act and current been practicing law as a member in good constitutional provisions as they relate to Being a practicing lawyer in the areas standing with the Law Society of Upper the Sierra Leone Police. The mandate of of police and criminal defence, my work Canada since that time. this project is to assist the Government of is conflict-driven and adversarial by its My law practice is centered around the Sierra Leone in revising and updating its very nature. I encounter many different defence of police officers and criminally- laws in a manner consistent with relevant personalities, from every walk of life accused persons, with a strong emphasis International Law and international and background, on a daily basis. One on the Civilian Oversight of Policing in best practices on Police Reform and of the biggest challenges that I face is Ontario. Police Accountability. This last project determining how best to effectively has brought my education at UPEACE communicate with the diverse cross- I also make use of my education and legal around full circle, given that my M.A. section of people that I have to deal with training in various volunteer capacities, Thesis discussed the power-sharing every day, and to try to both convey my including as a Case Team Lawyer with the arrangements established in post-conflict position and to understand theirs in a Canadian Centre for International Justice Sierra Leone, including the post-conflict meaningful and respectful way. (CCIJ), where I work with victims of torture military and security aspects of the Lomé Given that UPEACE is an institution in order to assist them in the pursuit Accord.

15 Diego Andrés Corral Coronel

Ecuador

International Law and Human Rights, 2012 Junior Lawyer at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The greatest challenge has been the are hundreds of others like me working difficulty in applying theory to practice. towards eliminating those challenges and Most texts and teachings about human making a change. Furthermore, UPEACE rights present the ideal to be achieved empowered me but at the same time and even the way, in which it should be made me humble, it taught me that I done, nevertheless, most of the time, can contribute to something bigger than they fail to explain how the real world myself but that is not necessary to aspire works. Professionally and personally I have to change the world from one day to the encountered several walls when trying to next, that it is enough to influence one life turn should into practice. The realization and hopefully this will lead to a domino that in most of the spheres where effect. human rights are studied and defended there is still a political backdrop which At the moment I am working at the Inter- prevents results for the actual prevention American Court of Human Rights, a dream of and protection from human rights come true I must say. My responsibilities Diego Corral fourth from right violations has been the greatest challenge consist of constant research to aid in encountered. the elaboration of resolutions and of sentences. The themes are varied and UPEACE taught me to persevere and to every single day I learn something new always keep hope alive. I was fortunate and get to witness the generation of enough to meet people from diverse judicial solutions to real human rights corners of the world and most, if not all violations, which at the end of the day of them, were idealists. As I encounter change lives for the better. challenges I just remind myself that there

16 Federico Martinez-Monge

Costa Rica

International Law and Human Rights, 2003 Protection Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The situation that has so far posed the have about the Universal Declaration of greatest challenge for me in the area Human Rights at a military check-point, a of conflict resolution relates to a mass detention center, or at a birth registration and arbitrary deprivation of nationality office. In this regard, simply put, UPEACE resulting in tens of thousands of provided me with a “protection starter individuals rendered stateless. In the kit” to go out there and be better prepared specific case, a State decided, from one to face the challenges realities of day to the other, to retroactively review humanitarian work. the nationality of an entire population and strip them of the nationality they I am currently working as a Protection had acquired at birth. Being stateless Officer with the UN Refugee Agency persons, these individuals were entirely –UNHCR-, coordinating all protection disenfranchised and could no longer work aspects of an operation in Latin America or have access to education, health and that addresses the situation of refugees other basic rights and public services. and stateless persons. Since it is a The humanitarian consequences for small office, we get to do a little bit of this population were enormous and everything, from holding discussions with disheartening. national authorities, to liaising with NGOs and other actors, to interviewing refugees This arbitrary deprivation of nationality or stateless persons. We deal with legal was a sobering reminder of what a issues and matters broadly related to the guest lecturer, a renowned practitioner, enjoyment of human rights, including once described to our class at UPEACE: documentation, education, and income- humanitarian workers must constantly generation opportunities. negotiate the non-negotiable. The universality of human rights and human dignity is unfortunately sometimes a bargaining chip that is only worth as much as the scant notions an official may

17 Golda Keng

Cameroon

Peace Education, 2008 Program Coordinator of the African Centre for Peace and Security Training at the Institute for Security Studies, located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia www.issafrica.org

I left UPEACE with such gusto to change education, I gained critical tools for the world, but the reality is that with such analysis, systemic ways of responding to a mission, comes enormous planning, stimuli and specific skills in educational organizing, coordinating and evaluating of management that are indispensable in impact to get tangible results. I work with the management of a training institute. senior policy makers and game changers I find that the education helped me in African governance, and sometimes become quite well-rounded in not only it feels as though for each step we take the knowledge but the skills and networks forward, there is an equal or far worse I’ve created with my classmates, teachers step backwards in another part of the and the lives I have touched in my years of continent! Bringing true transformation of working at the ISS. attitudes and behaviours is nothing short of a labour of love for which mostly, it’s My current responsibilities include a the deep conviction of being on the side range of functions from vision and of “good” that keeps you going and the strategy development of my centre, to the knowledge that whatever happens, you management and coordination of short did the best that you could. trainings and external representation and networking. I also develop curricula, teach I do not exaggerate therefore, when I and facilitate human security related credit my experience at UPEACE with courses and undertake project proposal helping me enjoy my job and where development, quality assurance and grant- challenges emerge, to find solutions giving. to them. From my courses in peace

18 Hovig Etyemezian

Lebanon

Gender and Peacebuilding, 2004 Head of Office, UNHCR, Bassikounou, Mauritania

In the past years I have been serving the academic background as well as assistance programmes as well as camp refugees traumatized by war and the adequate “lenses” in approaching management activities in the Mbera camp. displacement in a number of conflict challenges, breaking stereotypes and The camp, which hosts close to 60,000 affected countries. Negotiations with ensuring access to rights, preventing/ refugees, is located in the south-eastern government entities, discussions with managing conflict and finding consensus part of Mauritania on the border with Mali. I refugees and refugee representatives and and common ground in highly volatile/ also oversee the humanitarian coordination the management of the humanitarian difficult situations. structure established to ensure adequate coordination system regularly put at use coordination amongst all partners providing some of the conflict resolution/peace Currently, I oversee a team of UNHCR assistance to Malian refugees. I have building skills that I acquired at UPEACE. colleagues as well as humanitarian been designated as the regional security partner agencies involved in the coordinator for UN agencies in our area of My experience at UPEACE provided management and delivery of refugee operations.

Hovig Etyemezian is second from right 19 Brigadier General Ibim Morrison Lawson

Nigeria

International Law and Human Rights, 2013 Nigeria’s Defence Adviser at The Defence Section, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Beijing

It was my participation in my country’s I am now Nigeria’s Defence Adviser at war with Cameroun over the disputed “The Defence Section, Embassy of the Bakassi Peninsular in the late 90s and as Federal Republic of Nigeria, Beijing” . a UN peacekeeper under the Nigerian I cover 7 countries in South East Asia Contingent in Somali in 1993/1994. The namely; China, Japan, Vietnam, North UN mission was a very challenging peace Korea, Mongolia, Laos and Bhutan. My enforcement mission during which we job entails monitoring, reporting and lost 7 Nigerian troops with one captured analyzing strategically, issues of defence alongside an American military pilot. and security importance in these countries and advising my country appropriately. I had not attended UPEACE at the I also advise on areas of collaboration time. However, my UPEACE experience and cooperation in defence and security has given me additional knowledge between my country and these countries. and confidence in peace and conflict resolution and has equipped me for strategic level military participation in peace support operations.

20 José Antonio Sanahuja

Spain

Relaciones Internacionales, Cooperación, Integración y Paz, 1993 Full professor of International Relations. Complutense University of Madrid

The challenges I faced are mainly related of the courses. This experience helped with the academic work. I have tried to me to obtain the abilities for empathy understand the complex relationship needed to find shared interests and between development, peace, and visions and common grounds for mutual international cooperation policies. For this understanding in a diverse and complex reason, I focused my doctoral research to world. development cooperation and foreign aid policies in Central America in the context I’m Full professor of International of the Cold War. Subsequently, I take on Relations at Complutense University of other academic and policy challenges Madrid (Spain), Vice-Dean of Research taking in account the opportunities and Doctoral Studies in the Faculty of opened by the post-Cold War international Sociology and Political Science in this context. University, and Research Fellow at the Complutense Institute of International Studying at UPEACE was a life-changing Studies (http://www.ucm.es/info/ José Antonio Sanahuja is in the center experience. It gave me a holistic icei). My main tasks are related with knowledge about the international teaching and doing research about system and a full array of theoretical international relations and specifically and methodological resources and tools about development cooperation policies, for critical reasoning and for applied Latin American regionalism, and EU research. Furthermore, the multicultural policies towards Latin America. I also environment of the University and the worked in the last years as researcher and open-minded approach of learning of consultant for international organizations, UPEACE was highly influential in my vision foundations, think-tanks and universities and it helped to define my own teaching and research centers. In two different and the kind of research questions and terms I was appointed as independent methods that I have been pursuing since expert at the Development Co-operation then. Despite a long experience working Council (Advisory body of the Secretary of in international affairs, I still remember State of Development Co-operation of the the great experience of studying and Spanish Government). I’m also member exchanging with fellows coming from of the Board of Oxfam Intermón (Spanish more than 20 different nationalities, Oxfam affiliate). and the rich multicultural environment 21 Katarina Milosovicova

Slovakia

International Law and Settlement of Disputes, 2012 Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Austria, Slovakia, Croatia and Permanent Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United Nations in Vienna, Austria/Local Staff/Assistant to the Diplomats I have often participated at the many different areas, tasks and duties. My conferences at the UN in Vienna, and I main duty is to support diplomatic staff have experienced how the real world of and ambassador in the areas of my home negotiations works and how important country, which is Slovakia, knowing the the word consensus is. Given the language and the realities of my country, differences between states and their I often translate or accompany them on interests the consensus is sometimes hard official visits with Slovak representatives to achieve, but not impossible. or Slovak government.

Without UPEACE this would not be When it comes to the multilateral possible. Thanks to my studies at UPEACE, work, the UN in Vienna has several my understanding of International Law agencies with a joint presence such as is on a very solid level, and I have been the International Atomic Energy Agency using this knowledge on a daily basis (IAEA), Preparatory Commission for the in my work. The fact that I studied at Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty the institution that is mandated by the (CTBTO), United Nations Commission United Nations, helped me a lot in my for International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), career, especially in the UN environment. United Nations Industrial Development UPEACE is not only about knowledge Organization (UNIDO), United and grades, it is about understanding of Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs the world that is composed of so many (UNOOSA),United Nations Office for differences which make it beautiful. The Drugs and Crime (UNODC), International incredible variety of courses at UPEACE, Narcotic Control Board (INCB). My task is great professors with openness to talk to support the Mission in a daily activities about everything help you to understand such preparation of documentation for the why things happen this or that way. meetings and conferences and assistance to them. The work at Embassy and Permanent Mission is very wide and encompasses

22 Katsuaki Takahashi (Calimero)

Japan

Dual Campus in International Peace Studies, 2007 Senior Country Officer (Loan for Energy sector in Bangladesh, Nepal), South Asia 4 division, South Asia Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency

Some of the most important challenges in my professional career have been working in Syria from 2001 to 2007 at JICA Syria office and working in Lebanon from 2009 to 2011 at Embassy of Japan. Additionally, the achievement to secure the prosperity and human dignity through infrastructure development by implementing Gas development project with hard negotiation in Bangladesh and Hydropower project with unique scheme in Nepal.

UPEACE helped me to become global oriented expert, able to propose creative ideas and projects.

My current responsibilities in JICA are supervising the overall ODA loan projects in Energy and Transport Sector for Nepal and Bangladesh including some of project formulation (ex. Hydropower plant, High voltage transmission line, Gas and Coal thermal power plant, Gas development, Tunnel construction which estimated from 2million US$ to 4 billion US$ in each project).

23 Percentage of student’s gender in UPEACE. The Alumni 62% Female numbers. 38% Male

Total: 1383 Students

Students around the world

24 Number of students and alumni by master programme.

Students Alumni Dual Campus Programme: International Peace Studies Development and International Cooperation Environmental Security and Governance ESG with a specialization in Climate Change and Security Environmental Security and Peace Environmental Security and Peace: Climate Change Specialization Gender and Peacebuilding International Law and Human Rights International Law and the Settlement of Disputes International Peace Studies Media, Peace and Conflict Studies Natural Resources and Peace Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Peace Education Responsible Management and Sustainable Economic Development Sustainable Natural Resource Management Sustainable Peace in the Contemporary World - Online Sustainable Urban Governance and Peace

200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Country Students Alumni Country Students Alumni Country Students Alumni

1. Afghanistan 4 2 39. Ghana 3 3 77. Peru 9 8 2. Argentina 2 1 40. Guyana 7 6 78. Philippines 22 17 3. Armenia 3 2 41. Haiti 1 1 79. Poland 4 3 4. Australia 4 3 42. Honduras 1 1 80. Portugal 2 2 5. Austria 3 3 43. Hungary 3 3 81. Romania 3 2 6. Bangladesh 5 4 44. Iceland 11 8 82. Russian Federation 3 1 7. Belarus 4 2 45. India 26 19 83. Rwanda 16 15 8. Belgium 1 0 46. Indonesia 16 15 84. Serbia 1 1 9. Belize 1 1 47. Iran 1 1 85. Sierra Leone 5 3 10. Benin 1 1 48. Iraq 4 4 86. Slovakia 1 1 11. Bolivia 7 5 49. Israel 8 7 87. Somalia 3 3 12. Bosnia & Herzegovina 3 3 50. Italy 9 9 88. South Africa 4 3 13. Brazil 10 9 51. Jamaica 2 2 89. South Korea 79 53 14. Bulgaria 1 1 52. Japan 81 71 90. Spain 8 6 15. Burundi 4 4 53. Jordan 3 3 91. Sri Lanka 9 8 16. Cambodia 10 10 54. Kazakhastan 2 2 92. Sudan 11 10 17. Cameroon 27 22 55. Kenya 14 11 93. Swaziland 1 1 18. Canada 106 87 56. Kyrgyzstan 10 9 94. Sweden 7 6 19. Chile 1 1 57. Latvia 1 1 95. Switzerland 7 5 20. China 8 6 58. Lebanon 5 5 96. Taiwan 1 1 21. Colombia 16 15 59. Liberia 6 5 97. Tajikistan 6 4 22. Congo 9 6 60. Malawi 2 2 98. Tanzania 10 9 23. Costa Rica 47 34 61. Malaysia 2 1 99. Thailand 14 13 24. Croatia 2 1 62. Maldives 1 0 100. Togo 1 1 25. Cyprus 3 3 63. Mauritius 1 0 101. Trinidad y Tobago 1 0 26. Czech Republic 3 3 64. Mexico 13 9 102. Turkmenistan 2 2 27. Denmark 4 3 65. Mongolia 1 1 103. Uganda 39 38 28. East Timor 1 1 66. Morocco 1 0 104. Ukraine 3 2 29. Ecuador 7 7 67. Myanmar 10 10 105. United Kingdom 14 12 30. Egypt 6 4 68. Namibia 1 0 106. United States 388 310 31. Eritrea 1 0 69. Nepal 14 14 107. Uruguay 2 2 32. Ethiopia 22 21 70. Netherlands 6 4 108. Uzbekistan 4 3 33. Fiji 1 1 71. New Zealand 2 2 109. Venezuela 6 4 34. Findland 3 3 72. Nigeria 32 30 110. Vietnam 4 4 35. France 15 12 73. Norway 8 7 111. Zambia 10 9 36. Gabon 1 0 74. Pakistan 7 6 112. Zimbabwe 2 1 25 37. Georgia 1 1 75. Palestine 1 1 38. Germany 14 13 76. Panama 2 2 Kevin Kester

USA

Peace Education, 2007 Peace Researcher and Practitioner; PhD Student at Cambridge University; Fellow & Lecturer at Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Hargeisa, Somaliland; Instructor at the Civic Education Program of Northwestern University & Johns Hopkins University; Former Lecturer with the UPEACE Asia-Pacific Centre. It’s a challenge to keep focused on why I ways that ‘attacking the system’ cannot. do the work I do. In leading postgraduate I continue to find inspiration from my courses, teaching undergraduates and friends and colleagues working in this running capacity-building workshops, it’s field. not always easy to see the impact this work is having. Also, it’s been a challenge I am currently a PhD student at the to promote creativity in educational University of Cambridge, where I am programming within institutional conducting research into the perceptions bureaucracies that prefer to think in and practices of peace and conflict studies limited terms of strict budgets. This educators. In addition to my peace studies paradigm ignores the multiple forms research, I am a Fellow and Lecturer at the of social and cultural capital involved in Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies community building and educational at the University of Hargeisa, Somaliland, projects. where I teach a postgraduate course on Conflict Analysis, and I am privileged to In a very direct way, I have collaborated teach with a number of universities in the with many of my colleagues from the US and Korea. My work takes me around UPEACE . Our collaborations have led to the world each year and provides me an training workshops, publications and avenue to exchange stories with those organizing international conferences. involved in peace and conflict studies These colleagues are outstandingly education and to introduce many young supportive and continue to push me to people to this burgeoning field. improve my practice/research, despite our geographical separation. They remind me that occasionally personal, individualized people-to-people approaches contribute to broader systemic and social change in

26 Leonardo García

Costa Rica

Natural Resources and Peace, 2008 Conservation Officer, Forever Costa Rica Association

People are yet to understand that in any solutions to a wide array of problems. sort of conflict it is important to have I am the Conservation Officer at an NGO an open and collaborative position, way that funds conservation projects for the beyond the personal interest; the group Costa Rican Network of Protected Areas. interest must prevail. Conflicting parties We administer an endowment of US$ 50 must be able and have the willingness to million, provided by third parties (other concede part of their own demands. governments, private donors, conservation Entities like governments, NGOS, agencies, etc). At the moment I supervise and development agencies are yet to more than 15 different projects in Costa interiorize the significance and high value Rica`s national parks and wildlife refuges, of integrating local communities, either making sure that their goals and impacts in the decision-making processes and/or are properly fulfilled. as recipients of the benefits and positive impacts of the projects. Unfortunately we Leonardo García is second from right. still face ample challenges on this subject. UPEACE helped me opened my eyes, gave me important tools, and offered a hands- on approach that heavily linked theory and practice. We went way beyond the four walls of the classroom and experience the problems, needs, alternatives, and

27 Lieke Scheewe

The Netherlands

Peace Education, 2010 Programme Coordinator, Light for the World – Netherlands (NGO)

Since 2011 my main job has been with My focus on peace education has also a development NGO that works for the helped me to think creatively and come inclusion of persons with disabilities in up with participatory methods for Africa and Asia. In every area of societal group discussions or awareness raising and organizational change conflict workshops. I’m responsible for developing takes place. In fact, I’ve come to think and coordinating the program of our NGO of development work as a form of in Bangladesh, and I fulfill a supportive conflict transformation, in which many role to the program in Ethiopia and Nepal. stakeholders with different interests and habits need to become more The major part of my work revolves aligned, in order to remove or overcome around organizational development environmental barriers to inclusion. More support to our strategic partner in specifically, working on disability inclusion Bangladesh – the Centre for Disability in often means in the first place working on Development (CDD). This organization changing attitudes. Generally, societies builds the capacity of other development Lieke Scheewe is left with alumnus Adolphe still tend to take a charity approach actors (incl. NGOs, government, Kilomba. towards people with disabilities, who are institutional donors) on how to include seen as needy and incapable. It takes a disability in their development programs. mind shift to start working on inclusion Together with the management of CDD, from a rights-based perspective. I facilitate the development of a strategy in order to strengthen the organization Such challenges are part of the day-to- further as a ‘center of excellence’ on day job, and effective communication disability inclusion. skills have definitely helped me in this. I’ve also become more attentive to Besides this, I’m involved in lobby, training, the power dynamics that play a role and training material development, aimed in every interaction in this field, and to put disability issues higher on the how to consciously work on creating development agenda. a more equal level space for dialogue.

28 Luís Guilherme Alves Teixeira Gonçalves

Brazil

International Peace Studies 2013 – 2014 Still enrolled at UPEACE doing internship in CPI Kenya (Children Peace Initiative Kenya)

a profession where we are comfortable, inter-ethnic feud are paired to become friends but giving up some luxuries and go to for peace sake. The Children then connect work on the field, helping other human their families and the entire community, what being to have access to some resources is called friendship for peace. CPI Kenya began that we easily have. the process of engaging Children in inter- ethnic peace process after realization that UPEACE gave me many tools, arguments children are barely considered as a resource and content to discuss peace and work for peace and are not directly included in on the field. Some main issues we have inter community peace building and conflict nowadays in the world, such as Social transformation process. This led to the Justice, New Trends in Peacekeeping development of a child centered model of Operations, Peace building in the peace building strategy to make the voices grassroots level, Media tools for Peace, of Children heard and their contribution to Insurgency groups, Mediation and community peace appreciated. Reconciliation, gave me ideas and inspired me to work in these areas as I enjoyed My duties are to facilitate children’s peace Many people may think that the biggest most and became interested enough. activities, parent’s peace meetings, organizing challenge of working in conflict areas peace concerts, training teachers and writing are the danger and the risk of life, which The role of CPI Kenya is to engage children field reports after every peace activity, and of course exist, but it is not our biggest in inter- ethnic conflict transformation. also to contribute ideas and materials that challenge because everyone in the Work with school children to promote are relevant for sharing with children and world today unfortunately is exposed peace and reconciliation among community members targeted by CPI Kenya. to suffering any kind of abuse, violence, communities in South Rift region and theft, assault and kidnapping. Northern Kenya, areas that have a history of conflicts. The idea is to build friendship Our biggest challenge professionally is between warring communities and to to choose a profession that allows us to increase contact among their members work for the good of humanity, for peace, in order to reduce prejudice and minimize development and human security of animosity between them. The process whom are at risk. It is the challenge of care is that children from two neighboring about the other, be ethical, fair and just in communities that historically involved in the choice of a profession, not only choose

29 Mario Nishihara

Japan

Peace Education, 2012 Project Manager

Differences and conflicts are part of our conscious and careful when choosing life and growth – these are oftentimes words, timing, attitude and tone when great opportunities to learn/unlearn and speaking and communicating. discover, but only if we let it. It was quite interesting to conduct my internship in I was originally hired as a consultant at Lebanon at an International NGO, Right To my current organization, Jigoro Kano Play. Lebanon in itself is a very historically Memorial International Sport Institute interesting country housing thousands in the summer of 2013 to plan and and thousands of immigrants from all implement the United Nations Office over the region while it continues to on Sport for Peace and Development increase in numbers despite its small size. (UNOSDP) Youth Leadership Camp in Needless to say there are many differences Tokyo during January of 2014. and conflicts that come out of this type of situation. After a successful implementation with an amazing team, fortunately I am now Mario Nishihara is at the center wearing a white Much of our conflicts could be hired full-time at the same organization kimono. avoided with more positive intent in to plan for the 2nd YLC in Tohoku area communication – whether it be through (the disaster-struck area in Japan) along word choice or tone of voice. I have with the tasks of attending international learned that violence is not always conferences and workshops around the physical, that it could be with just one world concerning sports and development. careless word we choose. Witnessing and re-learning this has made me more

30 Marte H. Høiby

Norway

Media, Peace and Conflict Studies, 2011 Junior researcher

Changing demands in the media industry, media workers all over the world. Not and the risks and costs of working in the only do I have many good friends among field, is contesting the production and the UPEACE alumni, but they have also quality of peace/war journalism. As a become a resource professionally. freelance journalist I wanted to produce more in-depth analyses from the field, At the moment I am working on a media but I did not have the training, security, analysis for the Norwegian Centre for financial support and local network Human Rights. I also work on a UNESCO needed. It was both risky and difficult. financed project which investigates the security of journalists working in conflict Undertaking a Masters in Media, Peace zones, administrated by the Department and Conflict Studies at UPEACE has of Journalism and Media Studies at the helped me to advance further into the Oslo and Akershus University College of study of media, and I can now combine Applied Sciences. journalism with academic research and more in-depth analysis and field work. A year at UPEACE has given me valuable training and a network of journalists and

31 Mercedes Peñas Domingo

Spain

Relaciones Internacionales: Integración, Cooperación al Desarrollo y Paz, 1992 First Lady of the Republic of Costa Rica

The greatest challenge of my career development was essential. At the same has been to work in the development time to understand the public political of local communities, municipal agendas. The topic of local governments governments in Central America and has a low priority, but with innovative the Caribbean. To work with their great ideas, participation and involvement differences and bureaucracies was a very of actors we were able to include their significant challenge. At the same time, agenda in the region. Also, through to change some of the paradigms around international cooperation –specially the development it requires an important Spanish Cooperation- and to sharing effort. In this context, to accompany experiences, we were able to achieve complex processes of negotiation successful development projects. that involve local actors, the central Government and legislative powers, I am currently leading the Office of the meaning multilevel negotiations; was First Lady of the Republic of Costa Rica, essential to reach the goals. this position has legally no functions, it is pro bono but it has the capacity to The Masters Degree at UPEACE brought promote social projects. At this moment me the necessary tools, the academic we are prioritizing and starting to basis, to be able to mediate and negotiate implement some territorial development in my work the great differences that exist processes, in those municipalities where in the different local governments of the there is greater inequality. These processes region and in the relationship with their will be accompanied by social projects of central Governments. To have learned the most vulnerable sectors of society. about the role of cooperation in the

32 Mercedes Somosierra

Argentina

Peace Education, 2011 Analyst of national and international security/Researcher on human rights education/Advisor on pedagogy and methodology of education

In the field of conflict resolution (which dynamics, allowing me to understand and is highly important to me being a lawyer) solve conflicts and situations I could not I was sensing a deep attachment to old understand or deal with before. forms of a culture of violence within I am currently working for the Ministry the country´s essence and reality. New of Security of Argentina, in the area methods of conflict resolution are not of analysis of crime and national/ mainstream in Argentina, and therefore international security matters. I have always felt little could be done to persuade professionals towards shifting As urgent as security issues are, I must say from that culture of violence into a things in my country take much time. You culture of peace, while I felt at the same have to learn to be patient. I am saying time everything could be done precisely this because it may sound like many of the because hardly anything has been done projects I am working in are “in process”, to this time. Adopting new and more but that is just the way things are here. peaceful methods of conflict resolution was –before I headed for UPEACE- virtually One of the things I am most proud of and impossible and it implied a whole cultural excited about is that I have the privilege change within Argentinian society. Some to be working in a multi-party group, years after my returning to my homeland, being my responsibility that of writing I would say these new solutions now fall the draft for a public policy on a culture of into a society that is in many cases hungry peace. Most people think that the concept for innovation and creativity. of “culture of peace” is a very ethereal one, something that is not easy to put If I had to summarize how UPEACE into practice. I am working to persuade contributed in facing these tests, I would policy makers that a culture of peace is say -to put it briefly- that my year in something not only attainable but also campus made me grow professionally very much needed in this country. This is and personally in such a way it changed groundbreaking in Argentina. my whole perception of the world and its

33 Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

Myanmar

Responsible Management and Sustainable Economic Development, 2012 Program Officer at The Asia Foundation’s Myanmar Office

In my profession, I have faced many and diplomatic to become a successful challenges in the course of my work in professional in life. Moreover, UPEACE the development field in Myanmar. At the has taught me how to work efficiently policy level, there is lack of reliable and in a multicultural environment which is accurate information, strict hierarchical very important in the development field. nature of government structures, and With my personal experiences at UPEACE, complex bureaucratic procedures and I have overcome challenges by using a protocols. These are the challenges that holistic approach, looking at two sides of I faced when working with government. a problem, listening carefully, searching Often, there is a significant need to possible solutions and selecting the best strengthen the capacity and decision- solution that creates win-win situation. making power at mid-level and low-level staff within some government ministries I have been working as a Program Officer to improve program execution. at The Asia Foundation’s Myanmar Office since I graduated from the University Mi Ki Kyaw Myint is at the center. On the other hand, the challenges of Peace. My responsibilities in general that I faced when dealing with local include providing assistance with program organizations and NGOs are different. development, preparation of proposals Many of the local partners are pretty for donors, drafting and reviewing project new and they do not have a systematic reports, assistance with project and management and financial system to program evaluations. One of my main meet the standards set by international responsibilities is to develop and maintain donors and organizations. Therefore, relationships with state and non-state I often provided additional support in actors in Myanmar, and facilitate effective building their capacity and assisting and coordinated engagement of The Asia them to create and develop their own Foundation in Myanmar. I am responsible operational manual. However, my for developing and executing program experiences coordinating and working strategy, including all stages of relevant with donors and other international grant-making, and for strengthening development agencies have been great. connections between Myanmar Program and the broader priorities of The Asia UPEACE has showed me how important Foundation. to be inclusive, positive, resourceful 34 Mónica Paniagua

Costa Rica

International Peace Studies, 2011 Field Associate in Myanmar

I could start by telling you tons of stories UPEACE opened my eyes by not only Currently I am working in Myanmar of how challengeable is to work in the educating me on theory and practice but to continue my work on protection of field but I will resume it to: The biggest also by allowing me to build skills thanks civilians. challenge is to stay true to yourself, to to the multiculturalism and the live and have the creativity to face the obstacles stories of my colleagues and peers. It also and problems by applying everything that allows students to use their creativity you learned. I personally was in a field site to deconstruct and apply what you are where hardship and isolation together thought in real cases. with a high risk made me the only survivor of a team of 5 internationals.

35 Olivia Caldwell

USA France

Responsible Management and Sustainable Economic Development, 2011 International Partnerships and Business Development Manager at CEMEX

Working for a multinational company in professional life. These values include the developing world I have encountered both a soft understanding of varieties many cultural challenges on a daily of cultural practices, but also a harder basis. From working on a construction more pragmatic vision of how to create site with local workers to developing value through market-driven solutions. alliances at the international, cultural While the first has helped me in my daily misunderstandings are frequent and communication, the later has enabled can escalate if not properly understood me to generate long-term solutions and and addressed. Within the construction priorities. industry I have faced many of misunderstandings that have evolved I am currently working to develop CEMEX’s from my position as a woman, as a French affordable housing and sustainable citizen or simply as a person of a different infrastructure initiative in Latin America background. These have unfortunately and the Caribbean. My work involves the sometimes escalated into difficult development of projects and alliances, situations at times, which could only be as well as sourcing financing in order overcome through the creation mutual to build the projects in an efficient and respect and an ability to differentiate cost effective way. I work mainly with one’s needs from one’s stated position. governments, multilaterals, cooperation agencies and private sector companies My experience at UPEA CE enabled me to in order to develop projects that will help understand and appreciate fundamental bridge Latin America’s large housing and values that I use continuously in my infrastructure deficits.

36 Rafael A. Velasquez Garcia

Peru

International Peace Studies, 2004 Country Director – Mercy Corps

There have been multiple challenges. I was part of the first IPS class more than monitoring, evaluation, and administration In Darfur, access to the communities 10 years ago our small class was dynamic, of humanitarian assistance was limited, in Yemen we were directly positive, inquisitive and resilient. and our development programs. targeted for working on peacebuilding, in the Somali Region of Ethiopia the I am responsible for all programmatic, government did not allow INGOs to work financial and operational aspects of Mercy on conflict. Corps’ programs in Nigeria.

There will always be difficulties, it is our I support and oversee the management resilience to these challenges and our of Mercy Corps strategic planning, resourcefulness that helps us keep going. development, implementation,

Rafael Velasquez is at the center of the photo wearing white 37 Ragan Dueker

USA

Media, Peace, & Conflict Studies, 2012 Intern at the World Affairs Council of St. Louis, Intern at The Blessing Basket Project, Part-time International Researcher at IMPACT Group, and I will serve as a volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps for two years in El Salvador beginning this July 2014.

Thus far in my nascent career, my greatest various ethnic groups and their opinions professional and personal challenge in on the status of Kosovo. Although, such the area of conflict resolution has been advice did not directly solve the above working in northern Kosovo. I interned challenge, I felt somewhat prepared to with a small NGO, Community Building deal with incidents relating to differing Mitrovica, located in Mitrovica, Kosovo. opinions on the status of Kosovo. (Mitrovica is located in northern Kosovo, most of which is not in control of the I am preparing g for my tasks and Kosovar government, but rather the responsibilities that I will undertake Serbian government) While interning and as volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps living in Mitrovica, I became fully aware of starting July 2014 in El Salvador. I will be the social tensions that are still present in working in the Community Organization Kosovo among Serbs and Albanians; such and Economic Development sector, discernment was only possible through mainly to help with various development being physically present. The many books initiatives in rural areas of El Salvador. Ragan Dueker is left to the President of Kosovo I had read over Kosovo did not prepare me Atifete Jahjaga for what I actually saw on the ground.

Prior to leaving UPEACE, my advisor, Daniela Ingruber and professor, Alvaro Sierra, had given advice on what to expect in Kosovo, especially in regard to the

38 Rawle Small

Guyana

Gender and Peacebuilding, 2009 National Director – Habitat for Humanity Guyana

how I respond to it in my daily work to participate in shaping the future is by Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling directions of UPEACE are all processes that who responding to a question about I learned from as well as contributed to; where his ideas come from replied, such experiences reflect the essence of the “If you want to have good ideas you UPEACE experience. must have many ideas. Most of them will be wrong, and what you will Currently I am employed as the National have to learn is which ones to throw Director of Habitat for Humanity Guyana. away.” A simple change of mindset I also chair the National Stakeholders about what conflict really is, and how Committee - Guyana National Youth to respond to it at a personal level is Policy and I am an avid volunteer and more necessary violent conflict, in reader. The Gender and Peacebuilding particular war Program with its emphasis on critical thinking, open-mindedness and research Studying at UPEACE was more than an helped prepare me for this moment. I academic pursuit it was an immersion am indebted to my colleagues, professors Over the past 10 years I have developed is personal development, cultural and administrators for believing in me a passion for viewing conflict as diversity & exchange, volunteering, and providing countless opportunities for creative tension at the societal level and beach excursions, nature adventures my curious mind to engage in learning supporting persons and groups to reduce and a celebration of life and learning. and challenging the status quo ideologies this tension that often lead to violent My experience at UPEACE has helped which give rise to socially constructed conflict, by helping to transform harmful me to acquire a process orientation in conflicts or which poverty and war are but mindsets into positive ones. Conflicts contrast with an outcome orientation; two well know examples. such as inadequate housing, poverty this shift in mindset is responsible for and youth unemployment for example how I engage with various facets of are not inherently violent neither do my personal and professional life. At they represent a fixed end state. In fact UPEACE I studied with persons from I perceive these as creative tensions, all continents with the exception of similar to “writers block” and repeated Antarctica. The combination of rich challenges until we can discard all the culture, adventure, debates, critical bad ideas. One of my favorite quotes thinking and even the opportunity relating to my perception of conflict and

39 Dr. Shahbaz Israr Khan

Pakistan

Gender and Peace Building, 2013 Programme Manager

If we are unable to include youth in peace point for understanding the issues processes and their potential remains and it is very important to give value untapped than it is a greater possibility and understand the differences in that youth become a risk rather a opinions while approaching a conflict or dividend, the challenge of youth exclusion drafting a policy that underpins conflict is more in poverty stricken and youth transformation. bulging countries like Pakistan. My responsibilities include the supervision Course work and class discussions helped and management of four programme me in designing and carrying out research areas (Peace and Youth Cooperation; for youth policies of the governments and Youth Leadership and Volunteerism; Youth also in preparing the policy drafts and Policy Advocacy; and, Youth Research presenting to the government authorities and Publications) of the organization. and elected member of the parliament. Oversee monitoring and evaluation of the In addition to the studies at UPEACE, I programmes. Design and implement work Shahbaz Israr Khan is the first from the right also got chance to assist research, project plans, terms of references and budgets management team which also sharpened for programmes. Develop and maintain my project management, research and external linkages with government presentation skills. institutions, civil society organizations, educational institutes, research institutes One of the main lessons I learnt from and youth UPEACE was to understand that every individual has its perception and view

40 Som Prasad Niroula

Nepal

Peace Education, 2007 Senior Programme Officer

I have been working in the field of human vision helps to overcome the obstacles rights for last 12 years in Nepal and that we are facing in the time of political witnessed 10 years long internal armed transition. My knowledge and experience conflict between the government of sharpened on designing course on human Nepal and Nepal Communist Party of rights and peace education at the UPEACE. Maoists (CPN-M). In conflict about 16000 people lost lives and 1300 people are I am responsible for the Human still missing and physical properties also Rights portfolio at Alliance for Social have been damaged by both conflicting Development. I am providing strategic parties. It has been assumed that the support to current human right grantees conflict occurred due to the grievances, in Nepal and also oversee preparation of deeply rooted poverty and discrimination. policy briefs on human right policies. I have been facing challenges relating I have been closely monitoring human or combining human rights and peace rights projected implemented in the education in the local context. grass-root level and providing feedback Som Pasad is at the far right of the group . I am incredibly indebted to the course to improve the quality of the program. on peace education which provided the In addition, I also design courses for the broader framework of peace and human human rights and peace educator to rights education in praxis and linkages enhance their skill and knowledge to deal between rights and justice. The value the conflict. based education practice with broader

41 Timote Georges

Haiti

Natural Resource and Peace, 2008 Country Director for Smallholder Farmers Alliance

The greater challenges faced as field visit we had in a coastal area in Costa professional have been on conflict Rica where at that time it almost involved prevention +mediation in Haiti when I conflict between local inhabitants and was working as agronomist in the field. foreign businessmen, with the help of the There is a community where some years professor I reported some propositions as a ago neighborhood farmers used to fight mediator on this situation. This experience each other over the border of their land is reminding me how to best I can play a (because there no clear delimitation in mediation role in such situation. Here on the papers). My aim was to solve this the ground these mediation skills help once forever. I did it through a living me playing that role between groups of fence (fence made with trees) that I farmers at my best. have established to serve as permanent My current responsibilities are: border along the lands. I succeed bringing Planning/implementing and all parties in agreement as a conflict overseeing Smallholder Farmers preventer. Alliance reforestation/agroforestry and agriculture projects, teaching staff and At UPEACE I gained tons of knowledge and extension agents, doing community needs I’m doing lot of experiences with them: assessment, Managing the Foundation The classroom discussions, the field visits, budget, developing international, regional and simulation exercises are staying and local partnerships with the support of useful in helping me coaching sustainable the Foundation president, assisting foreign solutions .Particularly I remember after a students/volunteers on doing their tasks.

42 Usha Natarajan

Australia

International Law and Settlement of Disputes, 2003 Assistant Professor of International Law, The American University in Cairo

From late 2010 onwards, the Arab region frustration with the inability to imagine has seen a series of uprisings against real alternatives to the injustices of the authoritarian regimes. Working in Cairo past. during the fall of the Mubarak regime, and witnessing the ongoing turbulent At UPEACE, studying alongside faculty and transition, has been both professionally students from every continent ensured and personally rewarding. that underrepresented and silenced voices had a say on every subject from The struggle against political, economic, environment to trade to natural resources and social oppression in this region today to the laws of war. is often expressed in legal terms; with calls for constitutional, judicial, and police UPEACE is a uniquely international reform, and demands for human rights, forum for learning international law, as is to constrain the indiscriminate exercise appropriate for a university mandated by of power by the state and other strong the United Nations. actors.

Teaching students about international law and international development under such circumstances is a see-sawing between hopefulness for change, and

43 Vanessa Chaves Rodríguez

Costa Rica

Media, Peace and Conflict Studies, 2012 Producer of CB24 Noticias Centroamérica, Anchor of the International News

Time is my biggest enemy to apply all journalist I have the time to think about the concepts of ethics, conflict resolution possible consequences of broadcasting the and especially the role that media can event the way I decided to. play in a society depending on how the issue is broadcasted. My work every day I have to produce a one hour news show, is a race against time. For this reason the this includes giving tasks to journalists, biggest challenge I face in my daily job is choosing the headlines and checking to incorporate those aspects learned at all the material that is going to be UPEACE in each news. broadcasted on television. Besides, I have to present the International Regarding international news, I have news section every day in the Main News convinced myself that I cannot be the Show, which sometimes includes making best at everything. So, It doesn’t matter live interviews, most of the times through if I don’t have the information first. phone or skype because is to people from But I will be the first one looking for all over the world. Also I have to produce the other side of the story, the first one and present a 30 minutes program which to remain the audience that there is a is broadcasted on weekends. Its main goal background behind the event, therefore I is to give the audience a summary of the will inform the event in a social, economic most relevant international news of the and political context. By doing this, the week. audience can understand better the issue, but also and more importantly, me as a

44 Varghese Theckanath

India

International Law and Human Rights, 2008 Founder Director, Montfort Social Institute (Centre for Human Rights and Sustainable Development Education)

cities in the ‘advanced’ countries in a bearing on the work of MSI for rights terms of infrastructure has brought and entitlements of the poor which is a tremendous pressure on the poor cardinal principle for peace building. to vacate their dwellings to move out to the periphery without basic As Director of Montfort Social Institute, it amenities, and little opportunities for is my responsibility to envision, plan and employment. This becomes a good execute the programs of the Institute in breeding ground for religious and collaboration with our team. I also play social fundamentalists who picture an active role in enabling civil society the ‘other’ as enemies who take organizations being on the Governing away their scare resources. Violence Board of Confederation of Voluntary and tensions among these polarized Associations (COVA), Caring Citizen’s groups then becomes a common Collective (CCC), Forum of Religious for feature. This smothers the solidarity Justice and Peace, and the Human Rights of the poor who suffer deprivations no Forum. Montfort Social Institute (MSI) Varghese Theckanath is at the center of the matter what religious or social groups addresses three important issues of second row they belong to. our times - protection of human rights, sustainable development, and governance. Caste, religion and acute economic The UPEACE experience provided A special focus of MSI is children and disparity are major divisive factors in the me an understanding of the rights youth, for we believe that even more Indian society. As a grass root activist based approach with all its nuances. than our past, it is the future generations with the urban poor since 1990, I have A greater understanding of the that hold the promise of change in the witnessed increasing polarization on mechanisms for protection of rights world. The Institute engages in issues of these lines in Hyderabad, a city of almost is an important learning. The skills protection of human rights, sustainable seven million people, of whom around as well as the network that UPEACE development and governance, through 30 per cent live in the 1465 slums. opened up for me has been a great grass root activism, advocacy for policy Globalization and its impact in terms source of strength in our work. The reform, and education for transformation. of never ending demand for land for UPEACE experience has been an investment of capital, pressures from important personal journey within the middle and upper classes for making as well as to the world around me. the city more ‘habitable’ for them, and It has broadened my perspectives the quest of the ruling classes to ape the and outlook on the world that has

45 Yara Saab

Lebanon Venezuela

International Law and the Settlement of Disputes, 2007 Associate Legal Officer- International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

I witnessed a striking challenge to input to multilateral decision-making. By conflict resolution during my work as a using the legal knowledge as well as the legal adviser to the Permanent Mission negotiation and mediation skills I had of Lebanon to the United Nations in acquired at UPEACE, I was able to make New York, in the context of Lebanon’s constructive proposals while drafting membership in the Security Council. I resolutions collectively with the remaining have found that competing interests of fourteen States on the Security Council States, in certain instances, when dealing in order to bridge the gap between with matters pertaining to conflicts often positions of various delegations and offer lead to an inability to reach the consensus solutions which would be acceptable for needed to take firm action in order to all colleagues involved. contain, resolve, and transition from a After my experience as a delegate, I conflict. am now part of the legal office of the International Tribunal for the Law of While understanding the realistic the Sea. I support the judicial work of Yara Saab is in red during a session of the limitations to the individual’s role in world the Tribunal by preparing in-depth legal International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea politics, one should never underestimate documents upon the request of Judges, that individual’s ability to still offer undertaking legal research, contributing a contribution to policy-making. As I to the drafting of judgments, and servicing represented a relatively small country, the meetings of the Tribunal and drafting I had understood that the use of one’s the necessary documents in this respect. practical skills can constitute meaningful

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47 Alumni around the world: Contributions to Peace

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