Svetlana Kosenko didn't set out to join a movement. She set out to study, first Lithuanian Philology, then Applied Photography, then a teacher training programme in Denmark, the country that became her second home. Looking back, those paths might seem unrelated, but she sees the thread running through all of them: a curiosity about people, stories, creativity, and how we learn to connect with one another.

Today Svetlana works as an educator, and she's one of MasterPeace's members, officially part of the network since 2017, though her connection to the movement started even earlier.

"I have always been fascinated by how people grow, and how creativity, education, and dialogue can help us build more peaceful ways of living together."

Her first brush with MasterPeace wasn't at a peace conference. It was a small student fundraiser she ran with classmates for a tree-planting project in Guinea-Bissau, raising money for seeds and the local communities who'd care for them. Around the same time, she came across MasterPeace, then exploring early ideas for a Global Concert for Peace. The projects were different, but the spirit was the same: bring people together, create something positive.

That thread kept pulling her in. While studying in Denmark, she met the MasterPeace Club in Croatia and joined their Peace Concert in Ludbreg, where she watched people of different generations come together through art and dialogue and thought, simply, this is where I belong. After graduating, she co-founded MasterPeace Denmark with two friends, choosing Quality Education as their focus,  the foundation, they believed, that makes every other Sustainable Development Goal possible.

She still remembers her first MasterPeace Bootcamp clearly: a room full of people from different countries, full of ideas and a genuine belief that communities can make a difference, at a time when the world already felt heavy with conflict and division.

"It felt like finding a culture I wanted to be part of. Not because everyone thought the same, but because we shared a belief that positive change begins with people coming together, listening to one another, and taking action — however small it may seem."

From there came years of involvement — Walls of Connection, bringing young people, refugees, and local communities together through art and sport; educational work tied to the annual Peace and Justice Conference; and a growing conviction that peacebuilding and education were never really two separate things. In her own classroom, she tries to create spaces where creativity, courage, and a sense of belonging matter just as much as the subject being taught.

"Every lesson is also an opportunity to practice peace: learning how to listen, collaborate, navigate differences, and recognize the value in one another."

She'll tell you she wasn't inspired by one mentor, but by many, educators, artists, activists, and what she calls "hopeful romantics" from all over the world, united by a belief that dialogue and creativity matter. Her growth alongside them wasn't one defining moment so much as a gradual shift, classroom by classroom, conversation by conversation.

"I began to understand that every classroom, workshop, or conversation can become a place where peace is practiced through curiosity, creativity, dialogue, and belonging."

Her most honest story, though, isn't about a triumph. It's about a season of exhaustion, when MasterPeace Denmark sometimes felt like it was just her alone, as members came and went and the local club changed shape.

"Yet even then, I never felt that the ideas or the community had been abandoned. Instead, I was encouraged to remember what had already been created, reflect on the journey, and keep imagining what could come next. That, for me, is peace in practice."

What carried her through wasn't pressure to do more, it was a community that stayed connected, reminding her that belonging isn't measured by constant productivity, and that ideas sometimes just need time to grow. It's a lesson she now passes on to the people she teaches and works with.

Svetlana describes the wider MasterPeace network the way she might describe a forest: different countries, different professions, different lives, yet quietly connected underneath.

"I think of it like the roots of trees in a forest. Above the ground, every tree grows differently, but beneath the surface the roots are connected, quietly supporting the whole ecosystem. That is what the MasterPeace network feels like to me."

That sense of connection shows up in her work now in quiet ways, in safe spaces for hard questions, in curiosity replacing fear, in the belief that courage grows where people feel they belong.

When she describes MasterPeace to someone new, she keeps it simple: a global community of people who choose hope over helplessness, connected by a shared belief that creativity, dialogue, and small everyday actions can build a more peaceful world. And to anyone just starting their own journey with MasterPeace, her advice is just as simple.

"Stay curious. You don't have to say yes to everything. No one carries the movement alone, we each bring our own perspective, and together those different contributions create something much bigger than any individual project."

Asked for one line to sum it all up, Svetlana didn't hesitate:

"Every lesson, every conversation, every community is an opportunity to create a brave place."

MasterPeace Champions Edition celebrates the people who've grown alongside the movement, and helped it grow in return.

Every MasterPeace Champion has a story of creating change, and Bechir Selmi's journey is a powerful example of how one person's dedication can inspire thousands. Since joining MasterPeace in 2012, Bechir has worked tirelessly to empower young people across Tunisia, building opportunities for leadership, dialogue, and peace at a time when the country was navigating major social and political change. His story reflects the impact that committed local champions can have when they connect communities with a global movement for peace.

With more than 35 years of experience in youth development, sports, and childhood education, Bechir saw MasterPeace as an opportunity to offer hope.

"I felt we needed an organization that could support young people, promote their initiatives, and show them that there were people listening beyond our borders."

Holding a Bachelor's degree in Youth and Childhood Facilitation and Arts, a Master's degree in Didactics of Physical Education and Sports, and serving as an international Pétanque coach, Bechir brought decades of experience from the Tunisian Ministry of Youth and Sports into building the MasterPeace movement in his country.

Creating a Family of Changemakers

MasterPeace quickly became more than an organization—it became a window to the world.

Because its values reflected the aspirations of the Tunisian revolution—freedom, dignity, peace, and empowerment—it attracted young people between the ages of 14 and 35, alongside parents, teachers, and community leaders. Together, they created an environment where generations could learn, collaborate, and grow side by side.

Bechir started by inviting a small group of motivated young people who became the foundation of MasterPeace Tunisia. Inspired by the organization's mission, they worked with passion, discipline, and commitment to build meaningful activities for their communities.

Empowering Young People Through Skills and Creativity

The first years focused on engaging secondary school students through practical learning opportunities.

Young people received training in drawing, theatre, social media, public speaking, and community entertainment. Teachers, civil society leaders, and media professionals from the Monastir region joined the initiative to mentor participants and strengthen the quality of the programs.

As Director of a Youth Center under the Tunisian Ministry of Youth and Sports, Bechir was able to connect MasterPeace with local institutions and help introduce its vision to a wider audience.

Growing Through Partnerships

As the movement expanded, MasterPeace Tunisia began building partnerships with local associations throughout the Monastir region.

Together, they organized cultural, educational, sports, and family activities that reached larger audiences and introduced more young people to the values of peacebuilding and active citizenship.

These collaborations strengthened the visibility of MasterPeace and encouraged many more volunteers to become part of the growing community.

Learning Beyond Borders

One of the greatest strengths of MasterPeace has been its international network.

Through collaboration with colleagues from different countries, the Tunisian team gained new ideas, shared experiences, and adapted successful practices to their local context.

Bechir also credits the continuous encouragement of Aart Bos and the MasterPeace Global Board for motivating the team throughout the years. Seeing their activities featured on the MasterPeace Global website and maintaining regular communication with the international network inspired members to continue innovating and expanding their work.

Reaching Universities

Recognizing the potential of university students, MasterPeace Tunisia expanded its activities into higher education.

With Monastir hosting more than seven universities and higher institutes, serving over 30,000 students, the team established cooperation agreements with several academic institutions. These partnerships opened new opportunities for cultural events, sports activities, volunteer engagement, and leadership development, while attracting skilled and motivated young volunteers who shared the values of MasterPeace.

Volunteers for Peace

Among the organization's most memorable achievements were the 4th and 6th International Volunteer Festivals, organized in 2014–2015 and again in 2017 under the theme "Volunteers for Peace."

The festivals brought together participants from more than 22 European, Arab, and African countries, creating spaces for intercultural dialogue, collaboration, and friendship.

The participation of representatives from MasterPeace Global added even more inspiration for local volunteers, reinforcing the feeling that Tunisia was part of a much larger international movement working toward peace.

Expanding Across Tunisia

Since 2022, MasterPeace Tunisia has entered a new phase of growth by establishing clubs and branches in several regions, including Gabès, Jendouba, and Tozeur.

The goal is to engage even more young people across the country and create stronger local networks that promote peace, active citizenship, and community leadership.

The team is also strengthening partnerships with national print and audiovisual media to increase the visibility of youth initiatives throughout Tunisia.

Opening Doors to the World

MasterPeace has also created life-changing international opportunities for Tunisian youth.

Through participation in international bootcamps in the Netherlands and Romania, young people have developed greater confidence, built lifelong friendships, and exchanged ideas with participants from many different countries.

In 2019, Tunisia proudly hosted the 8th MasterPeace Global Bootcamp under the theme "Tunisia on the Waves of Peace." Bringing together participants from MasterPeace clubs around the world, the event became a milestone for the Tunisian team and a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Looking back, Bechir believes MasterPeace has transformed not only the communities he serves but also his own perspective.

The journey has strengthened his leadership, communication, and partnership-building skills while reinforcing the importance of openness, dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and respect for diversity.

Most importantly, it has shown him that peace is built through people who choose to work together despite their differences.

Today, being part of the MasterPeace Global family—spanning more than 47 countries—fills him with pride and hope.

"It feels like being part of one big family united by love, peace, respect, and solidarity. Together, we continue working toward a world where people cooperate across cultures, reject discrimination and conflict, and build communities where everyone can live in peace, dignity, and shared prosperity."

For Bechir Selmi, the journey continues—with the same passion that inspired him to join MasterPeace in 2012 and the same belief that young people have the power to shape a more peaceful future.

CHAMPIONS EDITION · ROMANIA

It started, as these things sometimes do, with something small. In 2015, during a visit to London, Marian Dragomir was exploring one of the city's famous museums when a logo caught his eye: the colourful vinyl splash of MasterPeace. He didn't know yet what it meant. He just knew he wanted to find out.

"I joined MasterPeace because I wanted to help create a world where dialogue is stronger than prejudice and cooperation is stronger than division," Marian says.

That single encounter would go on to shape more than a decade of his life and the lives of thousands of young people across Romania.

A Natural Fit

By the time Marian discovered MasterPeace, his professional and academic path was already pointed in the same direction. He holds master's degrees in Educational Management Studies, European Integration, and Romanian Cultural Studies in the European Context. For years, his work had centred on education, culture, youth development, intercultural dialogue, and European cooperation, through numerous international initiatives, youth programs, and European networks focused on inclusion, active citizenship, media literacy, and multilingualism.

When he found MasterPeace, the values matched what he had already been building toward: empowering young people, creating dialogue, and giving communities the tools to work together.

What started as inspiration soon became action.

Building MasterPeace Romania

In 2015, Marian joined a small group of motivated volunteers to begin developing MasterPeace activities in Romania. What began as a handful of people has grown, over the years, into MasterPeace Romania, a national network of more than 800 volunteers.

Under his leadership, local MasterPeace communities took root in Buzău, Târgoviște, Brașov, and Bucharest, expanding opportunities for young people across the country.

Since 2020, Marian has also served as Director of the Cultural Hub of the Municipality of Ploiești, a role that has reinforced his belief that cultural institutions can play a key part in building inclusive communities and encouraging active citizenship, values that sit at the very heart of MasterPeace.

From Local Action to Global Perspective

One of the things Marian values most about MasterPeace is its ability to connect local work with a global view. Through the network, he has collaborated with youth workers, educators, artists, activists, and community leaders across different countries and cultures.

"Every exchange reinforced my belief that dialogue remains one of the most effective tools for building peaceful and resilient societies," he says.

His international work runs in parallel with his MasterPeace involvement. He has taken part in learning programs including The Future of Storytelling, Space for Dialogue, Dialogue Instead of Conflict, Understanding Instead of Doubts, Mentoring and Learning, When Borders Turn into Bridges, Collaborative Teaching and Learning, and Cultural Diversity in Your Classroom — supported by European institutions, international organisations, and universities, including the University of Illinois and MIT. These experiences have brought new ideas, methods, and partnerships into the MasterPeace community in Romania.

Beyond MasterPeace, Marian has served as an expert trainer within the EU-CoE Youth Partnership, a member of the EAVI Youth Advisory Group, Ambassador for Open Education Europa, and an expert in multilingualism and language policy within European research networks, including the Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning. Since 2026, he has represented Romania within the Eurodesk network, helping young people access European opportunities.

The People Behind the Titles

For Marian, the titles and positions are not what matter most.

"The most meaningful achievements are not titles or positions. They are the people," he says.

He speaks with visible pride about the thousands of young people who have taken part in MasterPeace Romania's projects, volunteering activities, Erasmus+ mobilities, peace campaigns, inclusion initiatives, cultural festivals, and community actions.

"I have seen shy teenagers become confident leaders," he says. "I have seen volunteers create their own organizations, launch community projects, and inspire others to get involved."

Among the projects closest to his heart are those promoting inclusion and equal opportunities — especially for young people with fewer opportunities and persons with disabilities. Through MasterPeace Romania, the goal has remained constant: to make sure everyone has a place in society, and a voice that can be heard.

What He Carries Forward

If there's one lesson MasterPeace has taught Marian, it's that lasting impact is built by people who choose cooperation over division.

"Real change happens when communities build trust, listen to each other, and work together despite their differences," he says.

More than a decade after that first encounter with a logo in London, Marian still believes in the same idea that drew him in:

"Peace is not an abstract concept. It is something we create every day through education, culture, volunteering, dialogue, and human connection."

MasterPeace, he says, has become an inseparable part of his personal and professional journey — connecting him with remarkable people, opening doors to international cooperation, and giving him the chance to contribute to positive change in Romania and beyond.

His hope for the future is simple: that more young people will discover their potential, become active citizens, and help build stronger, more inclusive communities.

"MasterPeace showed me that a single encounter can change a life," Marian reflects. "In my case, it started with a logo in London — and became a mission that continues today."

Some journeys begin with a plan. Others begin with a moment that changes everything. For Rani Patel, President of Aarohan NGO in India, that moment came in 2004 when a seven-year-old rag picker named Rohan was caught stealing the wing mirror of her car. Many would have handed the boy over to the police. Instead, Rani chose to ask a simple question: "Why?" What she heard would change the course of her life.

The young child shared that he was part of a group of street children who survived by collecting scrap, engaging in petty theft, struggling with substance abuse, and facing exploitation and abuse. Behind a seemingly small act of theft was a much larger story of neglect, poverty, and vulnerability. The encounter shook Rani deeply.

Despite being highly educated, she realized how little she knew about the realities faced by migrant families and marginalized children living on the fringes of society. Together with her friend and colleague Anjana Tata, she began visiting nearby slum communities to understand the challenges children were facing.

What they found was heartbreaking but familiar. Children wandered the streets without purpose, influenced by older youth and disconnected from education. Many parents had migrated from other states in search of work. Most were illiterate and struggling to survive. The cycle of poverty and illiteracy seemed endless.

"Start with a dot and connect with the heart." -Rani Patel

"We thought that as educated citizens, we had a responsibility," Rani recalls.

Determined to make a difference, they enrolled around forty children in school. Like many first-time social entrepreneurs, they believed education alone would create opportunities and transform lives. But reality had other plans. When they followed up, only four of the forty children were attending school regularly.

The reason was simple yet profound. These were migrant children. Many were responsible for caring for younger siblings. Their families faced constant uncertainty, relocation, and economic hardship. Education was important, but survival came first.

That realization transformed their approach. Instead of only focusing on school enrolment, they began addressing the root causes that prevented children from learning. Their work expanded into early childhood development, caregiver education, and support for mothers.

"We believed that if we nurture the roots, we will see the impact later," says Rani.

This belief became the foundation of Aarohan, which means "a climb."

Since its establishment in 2005, Aarohan has helped deprived, excluded, and marginalized children climb over barriers and boundaries toward a life of dignity and opportunity. The organization works to ensure that children not only enter classrooms but also stay there, develop confidence, and gain the ability to make informed choices about their futures.

"We wanted children to continue their education and learn how to differentiate between good and bad. We wanted them to have choices." Along the way, Rani also discovered the power of volunteerism. Inspired by a conversation with the Cuban Ambassador in India, she learned about a culture where young people actively contribute to educating others in their communities. The idea resonated deeply.

"One youth teaching one child. That concept stayed with me." Soon, students and young volunteers began joining Aarohan's efforts, helping children learn and creating a culture of community responsibility that continues to shape the organization today. Over the years, Aarohan's work expanded far beyond education. The organization has worked extensively with tribal communities, creating opportunities for children and families who have long been excluded from mainstream development processes. For Rani, witnessing these transformations remains one of her proudest achievements.

"You have to visit and see it yourself to believe the change."

In 2011, she also began working closely with transgender communities, providing skills development, support, and opportunities for inclusion. Today, hundreds of transgender individuals affectionately call her "mother", a reflection of the trust, care, and commitment she has shown over the years. Her approach has always remained very simple: listen first.

"I try to fit into their shoes before I work for them. We need to understand the cultural context, listen to people, and then find solutions together."

That philosophy has guided her work locally and shapes her views on global challenges. Whether discussing access to education, domestic violence, child exploitation, inequality, or conflict, Rani sees common threads connecting communities around the world.

"The problems may appear different, but many of them are shared globally. We need equality of voice. We need to unite."

Watching images of war and violence around the world, her greatest concern remains the impact on children and young people.

"What children are witnessing today will shape their future. That is what worries me."

For Rani, meaningful change requires collaboration, empathy, and collective action. No single organization, government, or individual can solve the world's challenges alone.

This belief is also what drew her to MasterPeace. Reflecting on her experiences with MasterPeace bootcamps and international exchanges, she speaks warmly about the energy and motivation she has seen among young changemakers.

"When I met Aart Bos and participated in the bootcamps, I saw how much MasterPeace motivates young people. It encourages them to work for their communities and believe in their ability to create change."

Her message to fellow changemakers is both simple and powerful:

"Start with a dot and connect with the heart."

For more than two decades, Rani Patel has done exactly that, starting with one conversation, one child, one family, and one community at a time. From a chance encounter with a seven-year-old boy named Rohan emerged Aarohan: a climb toward dignity, opportunity, and hope. And as countless children, families, volunteers, and community members can testify, Rani never stopped climbing alongside them.