Seven Women Waging Peace Members Awarded Grants

The Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice is excited to announce the recipients of the 2022 grants from the Women Waging Peace (WWP) network.

Established in 1999, the Women Waging Peace network has grown to be a powerful and inclusive international community of peacebuilding experts and leaders who are committed to ending cycles of violence. The Kroc IPJ seeks to provide network members with grants to help them build organizational capacity and attend convenings around the world. 

Learn more about the seven WWP members who were awarded grants this year.

Visaka Dharmadasa

Visaka is a member of various councils and civil societies that work to promote the Women, Peace and Security agenda and women’s participation in all levels of peacebuilding. She received a grant to travel to a conference led by women peacemakers in Southeast Asia.

Bushra Hyder

Bushra is the Executive Director of Qadims Lumiere, an O and A level institute in Peshawar, Pakistan, with over 200 students. Her flagship initiative is the introduction of peace education focused on conflict transformation, peacebuilding, critical thinking, and leadership skills. She received a grant to travel to a conference led by women peacemakers in Southeast Asia.

Ashima Kaul

Ashima is a journalist and peace practitioner who uplifts women’s voices and agency through leading various workshops and seminars on women’s rights, health, and political role. She received a grant to travel to a conference led by women peacemakers in Southeast Asia.

Branka Peurača

Branka Peurača is a mediator, cross-border family mediator, trainer, facilitator and evaluator. She volunteered in numerous peacebuilding activities during and after the war in post-Yugoslav countries in the 1990s. Branka continued her involvement in community work as founder of several programs aiming at social inclusion of minorities. She received a grant to attend a conference on restorative justice.

Mossarat Qadeem

Mossarat is the Executive Director of PAIMAN Alumni Trust, a pioneer organization that works to prevent and counter violent extremism in Pakistan. She advocates for women at the domestic and international levels with organizations like Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership. Mossarat received a grant to travel to a conference led by women peacemakers in Southeast Asia.

Lilian Riziq

Lilian is a prominent leader in the South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network and championed the initiative that led to the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women by the South Sudan national government. She received a grant to participate in leadership communication coaching.

Una Thompson

Una is an advocate and activist for women’s rights, gender equality, and peace amongst civil society actors and women’s organizations in Liberia, Africa, and international spheres. She is a leading voice for 50-50 women representation in political governance, and ending violence against women and female genital mutilation. Una received a grant to travel to a conference in Liberia organized by the Women of Liberia Peace Network.