As spring arrives, the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement reflects on the past winter term which was filled with events, opportunities and new journeys. As we continue to the spring term, we would like to share some of the highlights of the Centre and its Participants this winter term.
This term the Centre and its Core Collaborators saw new students joining for co-op terms. Abby, Jessa, and Desy joined The Ripple Effect Education (TREE), Roman and Saad joined Project Ploughshares, Ashley and Liz joined Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR), and Auz joined the Centre's staff team. All these wonderful peacebuilders are wrapping up and moving on to their next adventures. Fatoumatta, the Program Coordinator, will also be leaving the Centre following her completion of her Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) degree. At a farewell coffee break this week outgoing staff reflected on the supportive work environment and meaningful relationships fostered by the Centre that they’ll carry with them in future endeavors.
There were many events and workshops during the term as well. The sixth annual Map the System Campus Final was held at the GreenHouse Space at United College. Fiona Li, a MPACS student, placed first for her project focusing on the over-representation of Indigenous Women in Canadian prisons. Jordan, the campus lead for Map the System will also be ending her role at the end of the winter term. The X Page Workshop kicked off during the winter term, providing a warm and welcoming place for refugee women to share their stories. The 2023/2024 cohort of Peace Innovators are wrapping up their 8-month projects and presenting in the Great Hall on April 27th.
This winter term saw Findsuri, a new start-up, join the Grebel Peace Incubator. Findsuri was founded by Dima Aldera, a Syrian refugee. Findsuri is a non-profit organization that serves as a platform for Syrian families searching for missing loved ones. There was also big news for another Incubator participant, BeBlended. Aileen, the founder of BeBlended, won the BMO Apex Startup Challenge at the University of New Brunswick and competed in the Odlum Brown Forum for funding for her business vision. CCBR is wrapping up the “Youth Engagement in The Mennonite Church” project which Liz was part of during her placement with CCBR.
As the winter term at the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement ends, we reflect on a term full of growth, collaboration, and transformative experiences. The arrival of new faces and the impactful events that took place highlight the Centre's commitment to building an ecosystem where peacebuilding can flourish. As we transition into the spring term, we carry forward the momentum of these accomplishments and use it to continue our journey of advancing peace through innovation and collaboration.