Ambassadors of Hope – stories of courage

26.04.22

In March this year Esperas hosted a virtual event to coincide with International Women’s Day 2022. The Peace Lab titled Ambassadors of Hope brought together three remarkable women who have been peace-building in their communities. At a time when the news is filled with stories of war and violence, it is heartening to see women working for reconciliation and peace.

Their inspirational stories were chronicled in short one-minute videos conveying each contributor’s hopes and actions.

Marinella Santos Mejía, Colombia

As an activist from and for the Afro-Colombian community, she chose to increase the pride of Afro-descendants and use the levers of democracy to protect the rights of minorities.

Rose Kahambu, Democratic Republic of Congo

For years, and on a daily basis, civilians in Beni have been brutally slaughtered. Rose, a resident of the region, was fed up with impunity. With a group of 12 women, she collected more than €30,000 locally to travel all the way to the capital and demand an audience with the president. They travelled 7,000 km to remind the political leaders of their responsibilities.

Hoda Serjawi, Syria

Hoda is a Syrian leader who continues to fight for equal rights for women believing in a better future for her divided country. A political and civil activist who worked in the local council of Maarat al-Numan, Hoda invested in the empowerment of women to raise awareness of gender related issues. She was part of several political groups that believe in change and democratic transition in Syria and work on a solution for the war, based on the Geneva resolution. Today she is still working for an organization that works on a democratic transition for her country.

 

The annual peace lab event was organized by Laurence vanden Abeele, Head of MMM Belgium, who also oversees Esperas ’ peace initiatives.

Watch the full recording of the event

 

Most read articles

Women at the peace table: international Conference

14.04.23

Make Mothers Matter, together with the city of Ypres, and its grass roots partners Mothers for Peace, Mama Kivu and the Vrouwenraad, is organizing an international peace Conference Women at

Lire plus

MMM welcomes first ever Human Rights Council resolution on Care

11.10.23

UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - Entitled ‘Centrality of care and support from a human rights perspective’, this landmark resolution was presented by the governments of Argentina, Iceland, Mexico

Lire plus

A snapshot of our Women at the Peace Table Conference

20.06.23

It was by all accounts, a remarkable gathering of global peacemakers. They came from all over the world to lend their voice and support to the message of the Conference:

Lire plus
See all the articlesof the category

Latest News from MMM and its Network

Supporting mothers as caregivers and educators – MMM @ the Human Rights Council

26.03.24

UN Geneva - As the 55th session of the Human Rights council wraps up, here is an overview of our contributions to the discussions that took place on a wide range of topics. Our aim with all our interventions wa

Read more

Mothers run the most demanding start-up: the family

24.03.24

UN New York, CSW68 - These wise words, uttered by of one of the speakers at our event, Let's change the narrative: invest in mothers, sums up the challenges faced by mothers. Organised online on the margins of

Read more

Let’s change the narrative: Invest in Mothers

11.03.24

UN New York, CSW68 - Join us for a discussion on changing the narrative in support of mothers - an online parallel event to the 68th UN Commission on the Status of Women

Read more

Be Family® – committing companies to act in support of families in the workplace

01.03.24

MMM as founding member, is pleased to announce the launch of Be Family®, a bold and new movement that aims to ensure companies and organisations act inclusively and responsibly towards families and people with

Read more

Inclusive social protection for realising children’s rights

01.03.24

UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - - Co-organised with a group of Child Rights organisations, we invite you to join us for this hybrid event which will take place around the HRC's annual day of the rights of the

Read more

Stop using women and girls as weapons of war says MMM member

27.02.24

UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - Passy Mubalama, Activist and Executive Director of Aidprofen, our associate member in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was one of the 4 Civil Society speakers selected to addr

Read more