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March 8, 2024 – Today, we were honored that UNESCO extended an invite to our very own Youth Peacemaker and activist, Khadjia Mayman, who works in the Cape Flats for WPDI South Africa, to participate in a special UNESCO Campus. The virtual event, marking International Women’s Day 2024, hosted 3 speakers, with over 1,500 students hailing from 80 schools around the world connecting.
Khadija was invited on to share her invaluable work and personal experiences in the realm of peacebuilding, especially at the local and community levels. Her insights enriched the discourse but also served as a beacon, guiding young girls around the world on their journey toward creating positive change and cultivating a more peaceful world.
UNESCO organized the virtual Campus event in order to bring together students and activists from diverse corners of the globe. The primary objective was to shed light on the remarkable efforts of women dedicated to fostering peace across various spheres – from international peacekeeping initiatives to grassroots community actions and individual endeavors aimed at building a harmonious world.
The underlying mission of this Campus goes beyond mere acknowledgment. The idea is to ignite inspiration, particularly among young girls (although inclusive of all), encouraging them to actively engage and become catalysts for peace in their own right.
The approach to this is multifaceted, and Khadjia highlighted this point, saying “Peace can only happen in society when everyone is represented. That’s why we need women and girls to be involved. We need female voices, they need to be part of making peace.”
International Women’s Day is vital because it celebrates the remarkable contributions of women, highlights progress in gender equality, and emphasizes the ongoing need for advocacy. By recognizing women’s achievements and acknowledging the work that lies ahead, it is an opportunity to unite in the shared commitment to create a more inclusive and equitable world for generations to come. It’s not just a celebration; it’s a call to action for a future where every woman and girl can thrive.