Youth + Peace

Youth + Peace

Empowering youth to build a peaceful, sustainable future

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Kofi Annan Changemakers

An intergenerational dialogue for impact

Champions for Peace

Empowering young people in Southeast Asia

Peace Beyond Borders

Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism in the DRC & Uganda

The Sawa Project

Strengthening community-led efforts to improve mental health awareness, services and policies

Environment of Peace

Youth-led research on climate, environment and peace 

Voices of Reconciliation

Using music to strengthen youth’s resilience to violence in Colombia

Extremely Together

A global youth-led initiative that aims to empower young people to prevent violent extremism

Rooting for the Future

Empowering Lebanese youth through cultural heritage restoration to foster social cohesion and employability

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Elections + Democracy

Elections + Democracy

Turning back the tide of democratic erosion

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Leadership Excellence in Politics (LEiP)

Rebuilding trust in political leadership

Women and Youth in Democracy (WYDE) – Accountability Hubs

Young leaders strengthening accountability in Africa

Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize

Recognizing exceptional leadership in defending, renewing and promoting democracy

Digitalise Youth

Enhancing digital skills, promoting civic tech solutions and raising awareness about online political engagement.

Electoral Integrity Initiative

Addressing electoral challenges

Electoral Vulnerability Index

Predicting election-related violence

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Global Impact

Regions our Elections + Democracy projects are active in include:

Multilateralism

Multilateralism

Advocating for a fairer, more inclusive multilateral system

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Multilateralism and Democracy

Understanding how democratic leadership is essential to solving global challenges

Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security

Reimagining Global Governance

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Kofi Annan

Founder of the Kofi Annan Foundation

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Home Youth + Peace Extremely Together Zaid Al Rayes

Zaid Al Rayes

Extremely Together

Zaid Al Rayes, Extermely Together Leader

Syria

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Zaid Al Rayes is a Syrian refugee and entrepreneur living in Dubai.

Zaid experienced the realities of violent extremism and conflict in his country and grasped the challenges facing young refugees in accessing the job market. He has developed a business model to address these challenges and has succeeded in creating more than 500 jobs for vulnerable youth, especially refugees, through his Al Rayes Group.

Besides running and leading the Al Rayes Group, Zaid works with national and international organizations such as Hedayah, White Helmets, Arab Thought Foundation and One Young World. 

Zaid is currently resuming his PhD degree in the same field in which he publishes academic research related to youth empowerment and entrepreneurship.

More about Zaid

Open to: Training, presentations, public speaking, research 
Areas of Expertise: Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE), entrepreneurship, the role of economics in PVE, PVE effectiveness
Scope: Syria, Jordan and Lebanon; Turkey; GCC;  Middle East.

Publications


↗ Article – Business Insider: Stopping The Cycle of Violent Extremism Has Nothing to do With Religion


↗ Article – UAE: UN Summit Gives Student Ideas on Rebuilding His Native Syria


↗ Article- OYW: Meet the Young Leaders Fighting against Violent Extremism.

Videos

Introducing Extremely Together’s Zaid Al Rayes of SyriaZaid Al Rayes on the power of solidarity, youth leadership and entrepreneurship to prevent Violent Extremism and foster social cohesion.

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