Istiak Ahmed

Coordinator, MasterPeace Bangladesh

Istiak Ahmed is a distinguished legal professional with extensive academic and practical expertise in international law, democratic governance, and human rights. Istiak holds advanced law degrees from globally recognized institutions, including an LLM in Democratice Governance and Rule of Law from Ohio Northern University and another LLM from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University.

Istiak’s academic pursuits include comparative constitbutions analysis, the rule of law, and transitional justice. He has conducted significant research on human rights conflicts in Sri Lanka, as well as constitutional principles in South Asia and Kosovo. Istiak is licensed to practice law in Bangladesh and is currently pursuing bar qualifications in New York and Ontario, Canada.

Istiak has been actively volunteering with MasterPeace Bangladesh, contributing to peacebuilding activities as part of the global MasterPeace initiative. In addition to his legal expertise, he has engaged in specialized trainings across diverse global platforms, including workshops on human trafficking, child rights, and environmental sustainability.

Istiak is an active member of prestigious organizations, including the American Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, and the International Nuclear Law Association. Committed to advancing global legal standards, he combines academic rigor, practical insights, and cross-culture expereience to contribute to legal systems that uphold justice, governance, and human rights.

Sabah Al-Sanayi

Youth Lead Ambassador, Making Cents International

Sabah Al-Sanayi is a youth advocate from Yemen and is currently the Youth Lead Ambassador at Making Cents International. Sabah is also the Waed Network Coordinator for the Sheba Youth Foundation for Development and Peace and Member of the Adolescent and Youth Advisory Group as part of Save the Children Denmark.

Yemesrach Assefa

Youth Project Manager, Youth Ministry Service of the Ethiopian Catholic Church

Yemesrach Assefa serves as a youth project manager in the Youth Ministry Service of the Ethiopian Catholic Church. She believes that the younger generation possesses a more creative and enthusiastic perspective to the world. Therefore, she advocates for a strategic approach to sustainable community development that meaningful engages, empowers, and equips young people in various intiatives.

As a peace practitioner, Yemesrach actively participates in peacebuilding initiatives, projects, and activities, sharing the knowledge she has gained while also learning from the experiences of others. Yemesrach sees inclusivity as a key principle in her work, as she recognizes it as an essential component for achieving sustainable and lasting peace. She believes that all peacebuilding work should efficiently engage all segments of the community, including youth, women, vulnerable groups, and people with disabilities.

Imam Bukuru Elie Khalfan

President and Founder, Alliance of Imams of the Northern Corridor for Humanitarian Development (AICNDC)

Imam Khalfan is the President and Founder of the Alliance of Imams of the Northern Corridor for Humanitarian Development (AICNDH). He studied Islamic Studies at the Islamic Institute of Mombasa from 2011 to 2012, where he encountered harmful interpretations of Islamic texts. After completing six months of training in Islamic Though at the Islamic Cultural Center in Kigali, he returned to Burundi in late 2013 and has since served as an Imam in Ngozi Province. Through AICNDH, Imam Khalfan promotes human rights, citizen participation, and holistic humanitarian development. Imam Khalfan is also a #ImamsForShe Champion, an initiative by Muslims for Progressive Values, and participated at a UN conference on Freedom of Religion and Sexuality at the UN in Geneva in June.

Imam Khalfan has served as a keynote speaker at various international conferences, including events in South Korea, Tunisia, Rwanda, the UN in New York and California, Mozambique, and Kenya between 2017 and 2018. From October 12 to 27, 2018, he participated in the International Visitors Leadership Program related interfaith initiatives in the US, organized by the State Department. He was also a panelist at the Tunis Forum on Gender Equality in April 2019. Additionally, he organizes numerous activities such as conferences, workshops, and iftar dinners in collaboration with various embassies and international organizations, including the US Embassy in Burundi.

Sahlim Charles

Founder and Executive Director, Re-Imagining New Communities

Sahlim Charles is a dedicated professional with over seven years of experience in peacebuilding, community development, development communication, and film production. He is an alumnus of the Peacemakers Network’s 2023 Youth, Religion and Mediation Course, a peacebuilding master trainer with the United States Institute of Peace, an alumnus of the 2023 Euphrates Peace Practice Alliance program by the Euphrates Institute, UPEACE, and the University for Peace, and a fellow of the Political Leadership and Governance Programme by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

As the Founder and Executive Director of Re-Imagining New Communities, he leads efforts to empower children, religious leaders, and communities through education, research, and participatory dialogue. Sahlim consults in delivering trainings and facilitation workshops for organizations in countries, including in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Venezuela, and has supported hundreds of children and youth in Kenya’s urban settlements and rural communities.

Adane Dechassa

Deputy Director, Peacebuilding Department at the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE)

Adane Dechassa is a dedicated ambassador for peace and a part-time instructor at various theological colleges in Ethiopia. He actively serves in the Meserete Kirstos Church (MKC), the largest Mennonite sister church in Africa, and other evangelical churches throughout the country, where he teaches and preaches the gospel.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Christian Ministries with a focus on Peace and Conflict Resolution from Meserete Kirstos College, and a Master’s degree in Biblical and Theological Studies from the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology (EGST). In 2021, he completed another Master’s degree in Peace and Security in Africa at the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) at Addis Ababa University, and is currently a PhD candidate at EGST, specializing in Peace, Theology, and Development Studies. Adane has also acquired certificates across various areas including Transformational Leadership, Conflict Transformation, Peacebuilding, Restorative Justice, Mediation, and Dialogue.

From 2013 to 2015, he was the Executive Director of the Inter-Religious Council of Addis Ababa, and since 2016 has served as Deputy Director of the Peacebuilding Department at the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE). Adane facilitates dialogues and peacebuilding workshops across the nation, teaching on topics such as peacebuilding, tolerance, coexistence, and the golden rules for interfaith leaders. Adane is guided by the principle encapsulated in the teaching of Jesus Christ from Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Anthonia Folashade

Communications Manager, Building Blocks for Peace Foundation

Anthonia Folashade Lawal is a passionate development practitioner with over five years of experience in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, women’s inclusion, and human rights. As Communications Manager for the Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, Anthonia leads campaigns around critical issues and advocates for policy change on critical issues related to Youth, Peace, and Security in Nigeria.

In 2024, Anthonia became a United Religions Initiative (URI) Youth Champion and a Fellow of the #ItStartsWithMe Fellowship, aimed to empower young people to be active citizens. Currently, she is studying at the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) and holds a Master’s Degree in Comparative Study of Religions from the University of Ibadan, along with a Bachelor’s in Religion and African Culture from Adekunle Ajasin University.

Anthonia is a passionate peace advocate, and intentional changemaker, committed to acquiring new skills and fostering new connections for a more peaceful society.

Md Sariful Islam

Development Professional

Md Sariful Islam is a passionate development professional with a decade of experience in the development sector, working in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, youth leadership, gender equality, community engagement, and human rights, particularly with marginalized groups. He has provided managerial support to several development programs at esteemed international organizations like the Asia Foundation, British Council, and Internews Europe.

Currently, he serves as a Steering Committee Member in the Asia Working Group at the Peacemakers Network. Alongside his professional engagements, Mr. Sariful is deeply involved in volunteer work focused on advocacy and capacity building for youths, religious leaders, and individuals with disabilities.Md Sariful is a dedicated and results-oriented development professional with a strong commitment to social justice and sustainable development. He is eager to leverage his expertise to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and create meaningful change for all. Mr. Sariful holds a Master of Public Policy Degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), as well as a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Governance from the Department of Development Studies at the University of Dhaka.

Sarah-Derval E Lifanda

Founder and CEO, Hope of Africa (HOFA) / General Coordinator, Southwest Northwest Women Taskforce (SNWOT)

Sarah-Derval E Lifanda, a Cameroonian from the Southwest region and is the Founder and CEO of Hope of Africa (HOFA) and the General Coordinator of the Southwest Northwest Women Taskforce (SNWOT), a coalition of over 150 women-led organizations in the Northwest and Southwest of Cameroon. With training in national dialogues, peace mediation, and strategic dialogue, as well as a certificate in Advanced Nonviolent Conflict Education and Peace Activism in Africa Democracies from the International Centre for Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC-USA) and International Governance Institute-Focal Integrity Team for Cameroon (IGI-FITCAM), the socio-political unrest in the region spurred Sarah-Derval to be part of creating SNWOT.

Sarah-Derval is a dedicated advocate and organizer who mobilized over 600 women in the Southwest of Cameroon for two lamentation campaigns coinciding with the Prime Minister’s visit, as well as rallying around 800 women during protests following the Kumba school killings. She has advocated for safe and effective school resumptions in the Southwest and Northwest Regions after separatist bans on education, lobbying for women’s inclusion in national dialogue processes. Finally, she has also mobilized over 1,800 women from all ten regions of  Cameroon to participate at the Cameroon Women Peace Convention, earning her a position on the Steering Committee of the Cameroon Women Platform.

Currently, Sarah-Derval is a second-year Masters student in Peace, Conflict and International Relations at the Pan African Institute for Development- West Africa (PAID-WA), with a thesis titled, ‘The Role Of Grassroots Women-led Peace Organizations in the Anglophone Conflict In Cameroon.’ Additionally, she is a Member of the Coalition for the United Nations We Need (C4UN).

Rev. Beauty Makuzva

Minister of Religion, Methodist Church in Zimbabwe

Rev. Beauty Makuzva is a dedicated Minister of Religion with the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. As a theologian and an Ecumenical Local Peace Ambassador, she actively promotes peace and interfaith dialogue. Additionally, she serves as the Secretary for the Women of Faith Network and is a member of the Zimbabwe Interreligious Council Committee. Currently, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Peace, Human Rights, and Social Justice at Midlands State University, furthering her commitment to social advocacy.

Binalakshmi Nepram

Founder and Director, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network

Binalakshmi Nepram is an Indigenous scholar and published author dedicated to Indigenous and women-led peace and disarmament. She has authored five books, including, “Where are our Women in Decision Making on UNSCR 1325” (2016) and “Deepening Democracy, Diversity, Racial and Gender Violence in India” (2019). Her latest work, titled “Manipur: Stories and History of my Indigenous Homeland,” is due to be out in Spring 2025.

In 2004, she co-founded India’s first civil society organization for conventional disarmament issues, Control Arms Foundation of India. To support over 20,000 women widowed in Manipur due to the armed conflict, Binalakshmi launched the Manipur Women Gun Survivor Network in 2007. Bina has represented Indian civil society at various UN peace and disarmament meetings and launched the Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, Gender Justice and Peace in 2019.

Her accolades include being a recipient of the Ashoka Fellowship, the Dalai Lama Foundation’s WISCOMP Scholar of Peace Fellowship, the Sean MacBride Peace Prize, the CNN IBN Real Heroes Award (2011), and the “Women Have Wings” Award in 2016. Forbes (India) recognized Binalakshmi among “Young Minds of India that Matter.” London-based Action on Armed Violence listed Bina in 2013 as one of the “100 most important people in the world working on Armed Violence Reduction.” Bina was also awarded along with the Nobel Literature Laureate Svetlana Alexievich as the winner of the Anna Politkovskaya Award 2018. She is currently a board member of the International Peace Bureau, and a fellow at the Asia Centre as part of Harvard University,  and a Senior Advisor at the United States Institute of Peace on Indigenous Issues.

Sylvain Obedi

Founder and Executive Director, Enable the Disable Action

Sylvain Obedi is a passionate young peacebuilder, disability rights advocate, and climate justice activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He is the Founder and Executive Director of “Enable the Disable Action,” focusing his advocacy efforts on promoting the participation and inclusion of youth with disabilities in all aspects of society.

Currently selected as a Kofi Annan 2024 Changemaker, Sylvain has worked with the International Disability Alliance (IDA) as a Global Disability Summit Youth Fellow. He actively participates in various networks, including the DGC Civil Society Youth Representatives Steering Committee (YRSC), the Just Future Youth Advocacy Network, and the United Nations Human Rights Youth Advisory Council. He is a former member of Education Above All and is currently on the Advisory Council on Integrity of Youth LED with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

Sylvain holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Public Law from the University of Peace of the DRC (UNIP) and a Master’s of Business Administration in Project Management and Business Transformation from AMM Research Global Institute of Management. He combines legal expertise with community engagement to raise awareness of human rights, particularly those of persons with disabilities, through community campaigns and open dialogues. Sylvain strives to foster inclusive communities that contribute to sustainable peace and development.

Yehuda Silverman

Cultural Exchange Assistant, Acquaint / Instructor, Northwestern University – Civic Education Project and at Brock University

Yehuda is a peacebuilding pracademic (practitioner/academic) who specializes in conflict prevention and transformation. He is an Instructor at Northwestern University – Civic Education Project and at Brock University, where he recently taught the course, ‘Culture, Identity and Pedagogy: Advancing a Lived Curriculum,’ which includes frameworks to foster inclusivity in educational environments. Yehuda is also a Cultural Exchange Assistant with Acquaint, which is a member of Alliance for Peacebuilding.

At Acquaint, participants from over 110 nations engage in one-on-one online dialogues, gaining a variety of diverse perspectives and intercultural communication skills to utilize locally and globally building peace. Yehuda focuses on curriculum development, consultation, partnerships, tech support, mentoring, and research to advance Acquaint’s mission. Supported by a grant from the Peace and Justice Studies Association, he developed an Indigenous Stories virtual module to provide participants active frameworks to further connect in understanding indigenous peacebuilding.

Yehuda also serves as a Facilitator at Civic Synergy, World Learning, and the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy in collaboration with AMIDEAST. He is a recipient of numerous fellowships, including three with the United Nations. During his postdoctoral academic appointment as the Faculty Diversity Fellow at Ursuline College, he developed and taught the course, ‘Intrapersonal Peace and Conflict Prevention,’ and collaborated with the Office of Diversity.

Yehuda holds a PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a concentration in International Peace from Nova Southeastern University. He is also a certified Facilitator in Intercultural Dialogue from the UN Habitat and Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation from the University of Rhode Island.

Anojitha Sivaskaran

Program Officer, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

Anojitha Sivaskaran is a Sri Lankan youth peace activist with over five years of experience in the development sector, focusing on peacebuilding and youth inclusion. She currently serves as a Program Officer at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), supporting the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and civil society partners in their efforts to promote inclusive elections and advocate for political and electoral reform.

Anojitha is a recipient of the prestigious Diana Award, awarded in recognition of those who go above and beyond in their work for their communities. She has also served as a Member of the Global Refugee Education Council and currently serves on the Youth Sounding Board (YSB) with the European Union. Notably, she is the first Sri Lankan selected for this role, advising the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships on youth participation and empowerment in EU external action. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Resolution from the University of Kelaniya. Born and raised in the northern part of the country, Anojitha’s passion for peacebuilding stems from her lived experience of the 30-year civil war.

Jorge Valderrabano

Advocacy Officer, Agora

Jorge Valderrabano (they/them) is a political economist working in peacebuilding, public investment for development, and sustainable development. He is  currently the Advocacy Officer for Ágora.