Creators of Peace 2025 Highlights

This women- led IofC outreach initiative, started in 1991, continues to build bridges across the world’s divides of race, religion, gender, and political persuasion, always focusing on bridging the divides in an individual’s heart as a starting point of transformation.

In 2025 a new executive committee of volunteers undertook the coordinating role internationally.  They come from India, Nepal, Syria, Uganda, the DRC and the UK.  Jean Brown, entering her final year as President is from Australia.  A new position of Vice President was introduced and is currently held by El Laskar from the UK.

Creators of Peace Circles, the main methodology of the initiative, which bring women and increasingly men together in a transformative space, have taken place in several countries this year, including Australia, Indonesia, India, Nepal,  Saudi Arabia, Syria, Mali, Burundi, Cameroon and Nigeria, Italy, the UK and Colombia. Our internal review confirmed that we are active in 43 countries.  

For the first time Peace Circles were held in Northern Ireland and Rwanda.  In Kenya the outreach of Peace Circles has continued in the prison system.  The potential for partnerships is being realised as in the case of Northern Ireland, where CoP partnered with ‘Building Communities Resource Centre’ and in Rwanda with the ’Mustard Seed Institute’.

Peace Circle held in Northern Ireland Nov 2025 in collaboration with BCRC

One Participant shared “I am going to take action around spreading ‘peace’ not just being at peace myself”. The group was asked what would you do differently, one shared “Listening reflectively and not with a fixed mind set”.

Peace Circle help in Rwanda July 2025 in collaboration with the Mustard Seed Institute

Over three days in Rwanda, participants opened their hearts. 

“I have started my healing journey. My family and neighbours will experience a new me. I am a different person than I came here,” one participant said.  

Another reflected, “This workshop has been like medicine to my illness, both physical and emotional. Writing the forgiveness letter helped me feel lighter in my heart.”    

The discoveries were liberating. “I used to think that someone must apologize to be forgiven. I have learnt that I can forgive without an apology. I will now be a creator of peace,” shared one.  

Another shared, “I had sworn that I will never forgive some three people that deeply hurt me… today I feel free of the bitterness I was carrying and ready to open my doors.”  

The contract with UNESCO Collective Healing Initiative has continued this past year with Creators of Peace Circle trained facilitators running Collective Healing Circles in several countries, exploring the intergenerational impact of the legacy of slavery. We have continued to work closely with the Guerrand-Hermes Foundation for Peace who have been instrumental in this initiative.

As 2025 comes to an end we are planning new ventures for next year.  Creators of Peace Australia with its longevity and outreach, now a more middle-aged demographic, is looking to start an exchange project with Creators of Peace Indonesia.  A newer, younger and very vibrant team.  This program called CoPex will start with a small group of four or five women from Australia, including at least two trained CoPC facilitators, spending 10 days in Indonesia to take part in two Peace Circles, interact with the initiatives of change fellowship there, stay in homes and experience some cultural immersion.  A return visit would be planned for later in the year.  This is born in part through the realisation that so many global conflicts take place between neighbours.  Fundraising efforts will undergird this program.

Peace Circle in Bandung with 12 incredible women from diverse backgrounds in Nov 2025. 

“This circle has not only strengthened their confidence but also deepened their connection and sense of sisterhood.” CoP Facilitator

In November, for the first time, CoP bought together a handful of CoP trainers of facilitators to share their journeys, build friendship and begin to develop a training manual for trainers. 
 

The International Executive Committee meet with CoPC trainers, representing 12 countries in Kenya in November.

Finally next year will mark the 35th anniversary of Creators of Peace internationally.  There will be a significant marking moment as part of the IofC global fellowship gathering in Caux in July, and later in the year a conference to celebrate and bring together a large number of the CoP network. We are planning for this to be in Kenya. Our theme for 2026 will be, ‘Contradicting a culture of contempt’.  This attitudinal scourge destroys relationships of every sort, whether with the earth, the neighbour or the rule of law.  Challenging contempt and replacing it with personal change and compassion is fundamental to the task of Creators of Peace. 

Note: There has been countless Peace Circle activity around the globe this year, some get reported and many go unreported. We have shared just a few of the Peace Circles stories here. We continue to document the impact stories. Please do get in touch if you’d hear more of our stories.