Tuesday was the last day for entering our annual Tomorrow’s Peacebuilders awards – and already we have seen some great entries for this year’s prizes.
250 entries have flooded in from around the world, our highest number of entrants since the awards began. Peacebuilders from lands as far apart as Papa New Guinea and Armenia, Jamaica and Nepal have been nominated.
Tomorrow’s Peacebuilders is the global awards for local peacebuilding. It recognises the best local peace organisations, looking for innovative ways to promote peace that are led by local people in their own communities. Winning organisations receive $10,000 each to put towards their work.
The entries offer a snapshot of the most interesting locally-led peace initiatives worldwide. This year, for example, we have seen organisations encouraging school children to use circus as a tool for peace, training reporters in the merits of ‘peace journalism’, and fighting the traumatic processes of FGM.
“This year’s entries have come from a huge range of exceptional organisations who are working for peace all over the globe,” said Ruairi Nolan, awards manager. “They show the diversity and innovation of local peacebuilding.”
Judges this year include BBC correspondent Fergal Keane, former Scottish first Minister Lord Jack McConnell, and local peacebuilders from Kashmir and Burundi. The awards shortlist will be announced in October.
