Reimagining Peace in Practice: Reflections from a Global Seminar

On December 5, 2025, I had the privilege of hosting and participating in the 2025 International Peacebuilding & Humanitarian Virtual Seminar hosted by the Forage Center, a full-day event that brought together global practitioners, scholars, and emerging leaders who are committed to innovative approaches in peace and humanitarian action. 

The day began with a virtual networking reception, hosted alongside David J.Smith, where participants and facilitators connected across continents. It was an energizing start, highlighting the diversity of perspectives and experiences among students and professionals. 

One of the first sessions on Conflict Transformation in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through Role Playing Games challenged us to think creatively about how we teach and practice peacebuilding. The facilitators from Uppsala Universitet and Georg-August-Universität Gottingen were able to demonstrate how interactive, immersive methodologies deepen understanding of power, identity, and empathy, reminding me that peace work is not only analytical, it's experiential. 

As the day progressed, the seminar expanded into critical contemporary issues. A session on Climate Change and Migration in the Lake Chad Basin highlighted the interconnection between environmental degradation and conflict, which displaces communities and necessitates peacebuilding responses that are both ecological and humanitarian in scope. 

In the afternoon, I joined a Young Professionals Panel that brought together voices from Save the Children, the Jamestown Foundation, the Czech Development Agency, and the Forage Center. The conversation was powerful as it reflected on the future of humanitarian action, global collaboration, and the unique contributions emerging professionals bring to the field. Hearing their insights reinforced my belief that we are part of a generation that is ready to shape more just and responsive systems. 

Other sessions I found impactful included Peace Journalism, which explored the media’s role in shifting conflict narratives and empowering displaced communities through digital tools. This session illustrated how innovation can bridge the gap in access to education and peacebuilding. 

Throughout the day, the seminar seamlessly integrated practice, theory, and lived experiences, ranging from educating future peace leaders to exploring empathy-based movements and indigenous peacebuilding paradigms. Each session reaffirmed that peacebuilding is not a singular approach, but a mosaic of inclusive strategies that honor dignity, justice, and shared humanity. 

In reflecting on this seminar, I walked away with fresh ideas, new professional connections, and a deeper conviction that even in times of global complexity, collaborative and creative peace work continues to expand its impact. 

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