Initiatives of Change UK-Creators of Peace

Creators of Peace transforms, empowers and engages women in peace creation.

Creators of Peace is a global women’s peace initiative that was launched in 1991 at the Initiatives of Change conference centre in Caux, Switzerland, by Anna Abdallah Msekwa, a respected politician and trailblazer of women-led organisations in Tanzania. In her inaugural speech she made a call to action to “create peace wherever we are, in our hearts, our homes, our workplace and our community. We all pretend that someone else is the stumbling block … could that someone be myself?

Programme Managers

Elizabeth Laskar

Elizabeth Laskar has been involved with Creators of Peace since 2010 and currently shares the role of UK National Coordinator. Over the last two decades her life has been dedicated to the environmental and humanitarian sector. She spent many years working in the sustainable fashion sector where she advocated for justice and equality in the manufacturing supply chain and worked alongside designers and trailblazers in the sector.

Aside from working with Creators of Peace she currently holds a role at Oxford Brookes University as the Oxford Human Rights Festival Coordinator, and researcher at the Centre of Development and Emergency Practice in Oxford, UK. She is also the Treasurer of the Oxford Fair Trade Coalition.

Miranda Shaw

Miranda Shaw has been involved with Creators of Peace since 2011 and has been a UK National Coordinator since 2016. She graduated with a degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford in 2009 and since then has been involved in climate and housing activism, personal development work and supporting activists fighting illegal deportations from the UK.

She has taught the violin and until recently was managing a community cafe. She loves to dance and spends as much time as possible reading.

What We Do

Creators of Peace UK is part of Creators of Peace International and we are active in more than 55 countries including the UK, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, Kenya, Burundi, Sudan, Cameroon, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands.

We invite women across the globe to join our Peace Circles which take place over weekends or as a series of weekly meetings. The programme is facilitated in the style of a ‘talking circle’ where all voices are heard respectfully and a safe space is established to allow individuals to explore diverse perspectives. Group sizes are usually a maximum of 12 women.

Topics explored include:

What is peace?
Inner peace
Concerns and hopes
Inner listening
What builds or destroys peace
The power of forgiveness
Qualities and strategies of a peacemaker
Listening to others
Trustbuilding
Putting peace into action.

The initiative is open to women from all backgrounds, ages and cultures who want to become more empowered, inspired, hopeful and effective in the current global climate. We organise Peace Circles throughout the year across the country and also run regular social events and talks.

We are supported by Initiatives of Change UK with a small grant, donations and in-kind support. This allows us to offer Peace Circle programmes to everyone.

“I feel I have some great tools with which to move forwards. My life has been enriched and will be enriched in unimaginable ways.” Peace Circle participant, Essex

Aims of Creators of Peace

Through our Peace Circles, conferences and community-building activities our vision and aims are to:

Prevent violence and despair by addressing the roots of conflict – internally within us and externally around us.
Promote a change of heart and attitude as a primary tool of peace creation, raising awareness of the personal values needed for effective social action.
Build bridges and friendships across racial, religious and social divides.
Understand and advocate forgiveness.
Build just, caring and inclusive communities.
Value diversity and inclusivity for all women everywhere.
Seek constructive partnerships with men and the restoration of the respect and trust necessary for joint action, whilst remaining a women’s initiative.
Create a network of solidarity for women engaged in peacebuilding here in the UK and around the world.

“The Peace Circle has spurred me to work on the more personal elements of peace that I have been neglecting.” Peace Circle participant, Brighton

Our Impact

Advocating Anna Abdallah Msekwa’s message of ‘peace starts with me’, Creators of Peace empowers women to be peacebuilders, beginning with their own lives and communities.

Creators of Peace UK:

Engages women in their role as creators of peace at every level of society.
Pre-empts violence and despair by addressing the roots of conflict in and around us.
Encourages and connects with existing ‘peacebuilders’.
Builds just, caring and inclusive communities for all.

“The Peace Circle has spurred me to work on the more personal elements of peace that I have been neglecting.” Peace Circle participant, Brighton

“The Peace Circle was a wonderful experience. I wish I had done this years ago. It has made me realise the strength of forgiveness and the power in each woman’s story.” Peace Circle participant, Newcastle upon Tyne

Get Involved with Creators of Peace

Peace Circles are small gatherings of women of all ages who work through material designed to deepen their understanding of their peace-creating capabilities and provide a space to create friendships. Sign up to our newsletter, join a Peace Circle or collaborate with us.

UK contact: creatorsofpeace.uk@iofc.org
Global contact: creatorsofpeace@iofc.org and https://www.iofc.org/creators-peace-cop