Some journeys begin with a single step. For Nico de Klerk, they begin with thousands.
Long before becoming part of the MasterPeace family, Nico had already dedicated his life to empowering marginalized young people in South Africa. As the founder of the StreetBiz Entrepreneurial Mindset Foundation, social entrepreneur, public speaker, and educator, he has spent decades helping young people discover opportunities where others see limitations.
In 2018, Nico embarked on what would become a life-changing journey—a 3,000-kilometre walk across South Africa. Visiting more than 100 communities, he listened to the stories, challenges, and dreams of marginalized youth. Rather than arriving with solutions, he chose to learn first.
The project was later recognized as the Best Global Social Innovative Project by the Life Learning Academia in 2019. Yet, after completing the walk, Nico knew his journey was only beginning.
“I was looking for global partners,” he recalls. “When I found MasterPeace, I quickly realized I’d struck gold. I recognized the same way of thinking, the same culture, and the same belief in creating positive change through peace.”
Finding a Global Family
Nico officially joined MasterPeace in 2019 after connecting online with Maria Sakarias, who introduced him to the wider network. Soon afterward, he received an invitation to attend the MasterPeace Global Bootcamp in Tunisia.
That experience changed everything.
Meeting changemakers from across the world, sharing ideas, and discovering a community united by action rather than words left a lasting impression.
“It was unforgettable. I met incredible people from all over the world, and many of those friendships continue today.”
The same year, StreetBiz became the official MasterPeace license holder in South Africa, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership dedicated to youth empowerment and peacebuilding.
Turning Ideas into Action
Since joining the network, Nico has integrated MasterPeace initiatives into the work of StreetBiz.
International Day of Peace, Nelson Mandela Day, environmental campaigns, dance performances, waste management initiatives, and community projects have all become opportunities to engage young people in building more inclusive communities.
Beyond local activities, Nico has remained an active participant in both African and Global MasterPeace meetings, strengthening collaboration across the network.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, together with fellow MasterPeace member Ray Mwanza from Zambia, whom he met during the Tunisia Bootcamp, Nico co-created a series of regular online gatherings that connected members and supporters from different countries for nearly two years.
Even during a time of global isolation, the MasterPeace community continued bringing people together.
Inspired by People Who Live Their Values
When asked what has inspired him most throughout his MasterPeace journey, Nico’s answer is immediate:
“The people.”
He explains that many organizations speak about their values, but few truly live them.
Throughout the years, he has found inspiration in leaders and members across the network—including Aart Bos, Dorothée Meijer, Maria Sakarias, Karen Rozema, Ray Mwanza, Enock, Apollo, Sudipta, Bechir Selmi, Marian and Marius Dumitru, and many others—people whose commitment to peace is reflected not only in their words but in their everyday actions.
For Nico, MasterPeace is defined by the people who make the movement possible.
Learning to Focus on Hope
One of the greatest lessons Nico has taken from MasterPeace is surprisingly simple.
“This world is full of wonderful people.”
Meeting individuals from different cultures, backgrounds, and countries has strengthened his belief that humanity has far more goodwill than many people realize.
That realization has changed the way he sees the world.
Instead of focusing on conflict, he deliberately chooses to focus on hope, collaboration, and the countless people working every day to make their communities better.
From Nepal to South Africa
Every MasterPeace experience has shaped Nico’s perspective, but one journey stands out.
In 2022, he participated in the MasterPeace Walk in Nepal through the Himalayas.
The experience inspired him to bring a similar initiative back home.
Although he had considered organizing such a walk before, Nepal convinced him it was possible.
In 2024, that vision became reality with the MasterPeace–StreetBiz Walk in South Africa, demonstrating how ideas shared across continents can become meaningful local action.
The Power of Goodwill
When asked about his favorite MasterPeace memory, Nico finds it impossible to choose between Tunisia, Romania, and Nepal.
Instead, he chooses something less tangible.
“The goodwill among people globally.”
For him, this spirit defines every MasterPeace experience.
One unforgettable moment came during the Nepal Walk. After spending an evening playing guitar and singing with local children in a remote Himalayan village, Nico prepared to leave the following morning.
Before the group departed, the children approached the organizers with a simple request.
Everyone else could leave—but they wanted “Nico” to stay.
They had even brought him a small gift.
“That was probably one of the most outstanding moments of my life,” he says.
It was a reminder that peace is often built through the smallest acts of human connection.
Standing Together Through Challenges
Like every meaningful journey, Nico’s has not been without setbacks.
At the end of 2023, he faced the difficult decision to postpone an important walking project in South Africa. The disappointment was significant, and much of his support team had to step away, forcing him to rebuild the project from the ground up.
Throughout that process, MasterPeace stood beside him.
Rather than making decisions for him, Aart Bos helped him reflect, face reality, and move forward with confidence. The wider MasterPeace community also offered encouragement and practical support, reinforcing the sense that challenges never have to be faced alone.
Building Peace Through Action
For Nico, MasterPeace is not simply about organizing events.
It is about creating opportunities.
Through StreetBiz, he continues helping young people access networks, develop entrepreneurial mindsets, and design projects that strengthen inclusion, peace, and community ownership.
His philosophy is simple: the best outcomes happen when people develop their own initiatives because they truly believe in them.
That is where lasting change begins.
A Community Without Borders
If Nico had to describe MasterPeace in just a few words, he would say:
A global community. Bridge builders. People who turn intentions into action.
His advice to anyone beginning their MasterPeace journey reflects the same practical mindset that has guided his own path:
Learn. Experience. Think. Plan. Act.
Looking back, what stays with him most is not a single project, event, or destination.
It is the people.
The friendships formed across continents, the shared belief that peace is worth working for, and the realization that when people come together with purpose, they can create lasting change in their own communities and far beyond.
As Nico says:
“Peace is something to fight for.”