First published in
In the years following Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022, daily life for many has been shaped by uncertainty and disruption. For many young people, the pressures of everyday life have pushed civic participation to the margins. For young women from minority communities, this challenge is even greater. Their voices are often…
Young Women Writing for Justice in Sri Lanka: Nabeela’s Story
In the years following Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022, daily life for many has been shaped by uncertainty and disruption. For many young people, the pressures of everyday life have pushed civic participation to the margins. For young women from minority communities, this challenge is even greater. Their voices are often absent from discussions about the social and political issues that shape their lives. Nabeela Iqbal, a Sri Lankan activist, peacebuilder, and Kofi Annan Changemaker 2023, is working to change that. Through the Write for Justice Initiative, Nabeela’s organisation, Sisterhood Initiative, trained young women to write and publish on social justice issues,…
First published in
In post-crisis Sri Lanka, young women from minority communities often grew up in fear, with limited platforms to express themselves. Nabeela Iqbal set out to change that. Through her initiative Write for Justice, Nabeela is amplifying unheard voices – one story at a time. By the time she joined the Kofi Annan…
From Silenced Voices to Powerful Stories: Nabeela’s Journey from Sri Lanka
In post-crisis Sri Lanka, young women from minority communities often grew up in fear, with limited platforms to express themselves. Nabeela Iqbal set out to change that. Through her initiative Write for Justice, Nabeela is amplifying unheard voices – one story at a time. By the time she joined the Kofi Annan Changemakers programme in 2023, Nabeela had already begun empowering young women to write boldly about social justice issues. With the Kofi Annan Changemakers seed grant, mentorship, and international platform, she deepened her work at a critical moment in her country’s history. Since joining the programme, Nabeela has: Through…
First published in
In 2019, Abdul Gafaru founded SheaMe, a social enterprise supporting women in northern Ghana. By the time he joined the Kofi Annan Changemakers programme in 2021, his network had grown to 53. As of 2025, 125 women across eight communities are part of the initiative. The Kofi Annan Changemakers programme didn’t just…
Big Impact starts with Real Support: Abdul’s Story from Ghana
In 2019, Abdul Gafaru founded SheaMe, a social enterprise supporting women in northern Ghana. By the time he joined the Kofi Annan Changemakers programme in 2021, his network had grown to 53. As of 2025, 125 women across eight communities are part of the initiative. The Kofi Annan Changemakers programme didn’t just provide momentary support, it helped build the skills, networks, and credibility that continue opening doors,” Abdul explains. Since joining the programme, Abdul has: A grant helped Abdul start, and continued support helped him further develop his initiative and position himself to lead on a global stage. Want to…
First published in
In Kenya’s Kwale County, budget decisions are often made without the voices of the women most affected by them. With support from the WYDE Accountability Hub seed grant and mentorship, Mbodze Mealii Swazuri launched Young Women At The Table, a grassroots initiative empowering young women to shape public budgets that reflect their…
From Knowledge to Influence: Mealli’s Mission to Put Young Women at the Table in Kenya
In Kenya’s Kwale County, budget decisions are often made without the voices of the women most affected by them. With support from the WYDE Accountability Hub seed grant and mentorship, Mbodze Mealii Swazuri launched Young Women At The Table, a grassroots initiative empowering young women to shape public budgets that reflect their realities. “When young women have a seat at the table, policy changes. Communities change.” Mealli’s project trained ten young women to become budget advocates in gender-responsive budgeting, budget analysis, and public participation. These advocates helped mobilise others in the community to take part in county public consultations, resulting…
First published in
Growing up in post-conflict Tajikistan, Mahnoz Rahimzoda saw few spaces for youth voices in public life. “There was no space for students to share their thoughts or take part in global discussions,” she says. “I wanted to get involved, but I didn’t know where to start.” That changed when she joined a…
Scaling Youth Leadership Across Central Asia: Mahnoz’s Story
Growing up in post-conflict Tajikistan, Mahnoz Rahimzoda saw few spaces for youth voices in public life. “There was no space for students to share their thoughts or take part in global discussions,” she says. “I wanted to get involved, but I didn’t know where to start.” That changed when she joined a youth workshop organised by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Programme Office in Dushanbe (OSCE POiD). Inspired, she stayed on to help organise future events. Today, Mahnoz leads the OSCE Alumni Programme, Network by Consensus, connecting more than 1,700 young people across Central Asia. She also…
First published in
The convergence of climate change, environmental degradation and conflict poses a significant threat to peace and stability worldwide, particularly in fragile and conflict affected countries. Young people in these areas are disproportionately affected, yet they are also uniquely positioned to drive transformative solutions. The report Resilience Rising: Youth Research Informing Global Climate…
Resilience Rising: Youth Research Informing Global Climate and Conflict Responses
The convergence of climate change, environmental degradation and conflict poses a significant threat to peace and stability worldwide, particularly in fragile and conflict affected countries. Young people in these areas are disproportionately affected, yet they are also uniquely positioned to drive transformative solutions. The report Resilience Rising: Youth Research Informing Global Climate and Conflict Responses sheds light on the experiences of youth in six climate and conflict vulnerable countries – Burkina Faso, Niger, Pakistan, the Philippines, Somalia and Uganda – and provides actionable recommendations to address these challenges. Publications in English: Publications en Français : About the Report This report,…
First published in
Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, delivered the Kofi Annan Peace Address during Geneva Peace Week 2024. Reflecting on Kofi Annan’s legacy and the current global leadership crisis in peace efforts, she called for greater respect for humanitarian law, and advocated for gender parity in leadership, emphasising the need for women’s inclusion in peacebuilding. Full Remarks…
Mary Robinson: “The current failure of leadership is not gender neutral”
Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, delivered the Kofi Annan Peace Address during Geneva Peace Week 2024. Reflecting on Kofi Annan’s legacy and the current global leadership crisis in peace efforts, she called for greater respect for humanitarian law, and advocated for gender parity in leadership, emphasising the need for women’s inclusion in peacebuilding. Full Remarks from Mary Robinson Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address, 15 October 2024. These remarks were first published by The Elders. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen It is an honour and a pleasure to be with you here tonight in my capacity as Chair of The Elders to deliver the Kofi…
First published in
Building on the tools developed and lessons learned during our “Voices of Reconciliation and Equality” project in Colombia between 2022-2023, the Kofi Annan Foundation, Alianza para la Paz and Fundación Nacional Batuta have created a practical guide on how to use music to advance peace and gender equality among children and adolescents affected by violence. The guide, “Acordes…
Harnessing Music Education for Peacebuilding and Gender Equality in Colombia: A Guide
Building on the tools developed and lessons learned during our “Voices of Reconciliation and Equality” project in Colombia between 2022-2023, the Kofi Annan Foundation, Alianza para la Paz and Fundación Nacional Batuta have created a practical guide on how to use music to advance peace and gender equality among children and adolescents affected by violence. The guide, “Acordes por la Paz: Enfoque de género para la paz y la reconciliación en la formación musical con niñas, niños y adolescents” (Advancing Gender Equality and Peace through Music Education for Children and Adolescents), is available exclusively in Spanish and has been developed to inspire diverse actors in Colombia…
First published in
Kofi Annan Foundation Executive Director Corinne Momal-Vanian is part of the International Gender Champions, a network that brings together decision-makers to break down gender barriers. Watch this video where she pledges to fight against gender-based violence.
Corinne Momal-Vanian pledges to fight against gender-based violence
Kofi Annan Foundation Executive Director Corinne Momal-Vanian is part of the International Gender Champions, a network that brings together decision-makers to break down gender barriers. Watch this video where she pledges to fight against gender-based violence.
First published in
A statement on the situation in Afghanistan from Kofi Annan Foundation Executive Director Corinne Momal-Vanian. Twenty years ago, when he received the Nobel Peace Prize, Kofi Annan started his speech as follows: “Today, in Afghanistan, a girl will be born. Her mother will hold her and feed her, comfort her and care…
STATEMENT: Do not forsake Afghan women’s rights in the name of stability
A statement on the situation in Afghanistan from Kofi Annan Foundation Executive Director Corinne Momal-Vanian. Twenty years ago, when he received the Nobel Peace Prize, Kofi Annan started his speech as follows: “Today, in Afghanistan, a girl will be born. Her mother will hold her and feed her, comfort her and care for her – just as any mother would anywhere in the world. In these most basic acts of human nature, humanity knows no divisions. But to be born a girl in today’s Afghanistan is to begin life centuries away from the prosperity that one small part of humanity…
