and mainstream media outlets ´ complicity with the current war industrial complex , they do not share positive stories by ordinary men and women in countries affected by conflicts who are working towards peace in their communities . Instead , these media outlets invest in fueling a propaganda machinery that further incentivize violence and polarize affected communities . My activist instincts became immediately preoccupied by this research finding and I felt the need to be involved . At that moment , I did not know what to do and how to go about it but I knew that I needed to do something to contribute to bridging this divide in social and mainstream media . However small my contribution would be , I was resolved to act .
In February 2016 , I founded Peacemaker 360 , a social media campaign that profiles and shares peace activists ’ stories with three specific goals : inspire , connect , and amplify global peace activism efforts . With over 10,000 followers in almost two years , Peacemaker
360 has connected thousands of peace activists and continues to bridge the gap among peace professionals all around the world .
D : Peacemaking is a challenging and complicated task . You have conducted lots of interviews with young activists in the peacemaking field . Could you share a couple of ways that grassroots / young changemakers can effectively tackle this challenge ?
C : Indeed peacemaking is a challenging and complex endeavor . It is even more complicated when young changemakers take up the challenge of promoting peace . This is because despite the passing of UNSCR 2250 in 2015 , a UN framework recognizing young people as peace actors , there are still a lot of gaps in terms of the implementation of this framework in many countries . Nevertheless , young peacebuilders have remained resilient and are working hard in their own networks to creatively find spaces of engagement with decision makers in their respective contexts . I am convinced that the spirit of creativity and partnership among young peacebuilders can overcome challenges in the long run .
D : How do you compare the effectiveness of peacebuilding between a top-down approach ( led by government and international organizations ) and a bottom-up approach ( in the community level )?
C : I think we need both approaches in sustaining peacebuilding efforts . What often makes these two models almost incompatible is the power imbalance in terms of who has the resources to implement peacebuilding efforts . Traditionally , there has been in both the humanitarian and the peacebuilding sector , a dependency syndrome to funding institutions . These institutions impose their conditions that may offset grassroots ´ efforts in responding to the real needs of the people . I am convinced that
10 Change Magazine