Kroc IPJ Awards Annual Women Waging Peace Grants to Nine Changemakers

The Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ) announces the recipients of the Women Waging Peace annual grants!

Women Waging Peace network members are leaders in their communities and around the world, and the Kroc IPJ is proud to help support network members to build their organizational capacity and to attend convenings around the world. Read on to learn more about this year's recipients. 

Jane Anyango Odongo, Kenya

Jane Anyango is a grassroots woman peacemaker with over 20 years of experience working with communities to promote positive ethnicity and peaceful coexistence. She actively fosters community cohesion through sports, music, and neighborhood circles, while advocating for the inclusion of grassroots women in peace and security dialogues. Jane is receiving a grant to attend the 4th Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla, Spain.

Khurshid Bano, Pakistan

Khurshid is the founder of the women-led organization Da Hawwa Lur (Daughter of Eve) in the conflict-affected region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She challenges patriarchal norms and radicalisation by promoting women’s rights and peace building. The founder of the first women’s union in KP, Khurshid champions women’s rights to live and work free from sexual and gender-based harassment, violence and discrimination. Khurshid was nominated for the Women Leaders Award and is receiving a grant to attend the award ceremony in the UK. 

Rubina Feroze Bhatti, Pakistan

Dr. Bhatti is an academically informed practitioner with over 20 years of experience in education, human rights, and public policy reform. She was also a research fellow at Stanford University. She has served as an assistant professor at the Pakistan Global Institute, the first South Korean university in Pakistan. Dr. Bhatti represented Punjab on the National Commission for the Rights of the Child and was nominated as one of the 1,000 women for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. She has received numerous awards for her contributions, including the 2011 Woman of Courage Award, the 2010 World Vision International Peacemaking Award, and the 2015 N-Peace Award from the United Nations Development Program. She is a prolific writer, contributing to prominent publications such as Dawn, The News, and The Friday Times. Rubina is receiving a grant to present her work at the International Gathering - Leading and Transforming Together III in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Hamidakhanim (Hamida) Giyasbayli, Georgia/Germany

Hamida Giyasbayli is a peacebuilding scholar and practitioner specializing in conflict transformation, civic resistance, and gender-inclusive dialogue in authoritarian and conflict-affected contexts. With over 14 years of experience across the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe, they focus on research, facilitation, and advocacy to support marginalized voices in peace processes. Hamida is receiving a grant to attend a Knowledge, Power, and Impact conference at the University of Notre Dame in the US.

Sehyr Mirza, Pakistan

Sehyr Mirza is an independent journalist, peace activist and author based in Lahore, Pakistan, with over 12 years of experience in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and promoting socio-political dialogue. She is the co-founder of SAMAAJ, an award-winning cultural organization, and the author of The Other in the Mirror, a collection of short fiction exploring the impacts of the Partition of India. Her work has been featured in leading publications such as the BBC, Huffington Post, and The News International. Sehyr is receiving a grant to attend the Hiroshima and Peace Summer Program in Hiroshima, Japan.

Caryn Oyo Dasah, Cameroon

Caryn Dasah is a grassroots peacebuilder from Cameroon and founder of Hope Advocates Africa. She has frontline experiences implementing campaigns and advocacy initiatives advancing women's rights, gender equality, ending violence against women and girls and sustainable development. Caryn is receiving a grant to attend the Cultural Diplomacy, Conflict resolution, and Global Peace Forum in Vancouver, Canada.

Radha Paudel, Nepal

Radha Paudel, PhD is self-made peace maker, author, activist and global leader for theorizing Dignified Menstruation from Nepal. She was a Women PeaceMaker Fellow in 2012. Radha is receiving a grant to attend a conference in Armenia to share her knowledge on dignified menstruation. This conference is organized by WWP member Gulnara Shahinian.

Sulochana Peiris, Sri Lanka

Sulochana Peiris is a documentary-maker, researcher and writer based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She has over two decades of professional experience in storytelling, advocacy, writing and research in women, peace, and security, human rights, peacebuilding, freedom of religion and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, other south- and south-east Asia countries. Sulochana is receiving a grant to present her documentary work at Coventry University in the UK.

Pinky Singh Rana, Nepal

Pinky Singh Rana is a feminist activist and advocate, anchoring her efforts on gender-based violence across diverse sectors. Grounded in the belief evidence-based advocacy is key to ensure transformation, she continuously serves as a bridge between vulnerable communities and policy makers. Pinky is receiving a grant to present her work at the 5th World Conference of Women’s Shelters in Sydney, Australia.