Igor from Croatia will tell you his MasterPeace story started with two things: music and art for peace. Simple as that. What he couldn’t have told you in March 2014, when he walked into his first Bootcamp in the Netherlands, was where that beginning would take him.
“What started as one Bootcamp became a lifetime of friendships, partnerships, and opportunities to create positive change.”
That first Bootcamp left a mark. Meeting passionate people from all over the world, sharing ideas, creating together, and realising that everyone in that room wanted the same thing — to make their communities better — was, in his own words, an unforgettable experience. It’s still the memory that comes to mind first when he thinks about his time with MasterPeace.
More than a decade later, Igor runs MasterPeace Croatia through his organisation LUMEN, and the scale of what’s been built is striking. Youth exchanges, training courses, workshops, community art projects, local initiatives promoting active citizenship and intercultural dialogue — thousands of young people have come through these activities over the years.
One of the most visible marks MasterPeace Croatia left on their city is Walls of Connections — a project that brought together local and international artists to create permanent street art in public spaces, while connecting young people, artists, and everyday citizens in the process. The kind of thing you can still walk past years later.
“MasterPeace taught me that lasting change starts with local action. Even small initiatives can inspire an entire community when people work together with creativity, respect, and a shared vision.”
From that foundation, Igor’s involvement grew into coordinating international Erasmus+ partnerships — first as a partner in ACT for Liberty and DOUACT, and now, from 2024 to 2026, as coordinator of Halan We Grow, a project run together with MasterPeace Netherlands and partners from MENA countries, supporting young people through creativity and social entrepreneurship.
He reflects on the distance travelled since that first Bootcamp.
“Looking back at 2014, I could never have imagined that one day we would lead international partnerships and support organisations from Europe and the MENA region. That journey gave me confidence in my abilities as a leader and project manager.”
The path wasn’t without challenges. Keeping international cooperation alive through COVID-19, and later working alongside partners affected by conflicts in the MENA region, tested the network. But the MasterPeace community kept finding ways to stay connected, adapt, and support each other.
“That resilience showed me the true value of an international community.”
What has changed most for Igor, beyond the projects and the partnerships, is how he thinks about peace itself.
“Peace is not only the absence of conflict — it’s also about creating opportunities, dialogue, inclusion, and cooperation.”
And then there are the friendships. People met through Bootcamps and projects who became close friends and trusted partners across different countries, who still visit each other and develop new initiatives together. For Igor, those relationships are among the greatest outcomes of his entire journey.
He sees that same ripple effect in the young people around him — more willing to volunteer, to travel, to believe they can make a difference. More connected to an international community than they would have been otherwise.
When he describes MasterPeace to someone new, he puts it simply: a global family of people who believe that peace is created through action.
His advice to anyone starting out?
“Be open to every opportunity, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, and say yes to new experiences. The people you meet through MasterPeace may become lifelong friends and partners.”
The words he reaches for when he thinks about MasterPeace: Friendship. Diversity. Creativity. Cooperation. Trust. Hope. Action.
Ten years on, all of them still ring true.
MasterPeace Champions Edition celebrates the people who’ve grown alongside the movement — and helped it grow in return.