Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative

"Our mission is to empower dedicated people to give them the tools to make them effective peacemakers and entrepreneurs."" - Forest Whitaker At WPDI, we are committed to fostering peace and development by creating young advocates and activists who can disseminate a culture of peace and non-violence in their communities. We are here to help them build a brighter future.

Happy New Year from WPDI! 🎉 In a year unlike any other, we’ve seen youth and communities rise to meet challenges with determination, creativity, and hope. As we step into 2025, we remain committed to empowering changemakers to build a more peaceful and sustainable future. Thank you for standing with us—here’s to a year of new opportunities and lasting progress!

🌟A Holiday Message from WPDI CEO and Founder, Forest Whitaker🌟 Dear friends, As 2024 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve had this year at WPDI. It has been a year of immense effort and dedication, during which we achieved the milestone of reaching over 2 million people since our inception in 2012. None of this would have been possible without the incredible commitment and hard work of the WPDI teams across the globe. I would also like to express heartfelt thanks to our partners for standing with us on this journey. Your trust and support enable us to dream big and bring those dreams to life in communities that need them the most. As we step into 2025, let us remain united in our commitment to spreading peace and fostering hope. Let us continue to work together to create a world where everyone has the tools to thrive and the opportunity to contribute to a brighter future. Wishing you and your families a peaceful and joyful New Year. Warm regards, Forest Whitaker CEO and Founder, WPDI

✔️In October, the Women Resource Center in Maridi became a hub of transformative learning as our first training session on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) was conducted in partnership with UNESCO South Sudan . The event was attended by 46 teachers and 5 participants from the Youth Peacemaker training program, collectively dedicated to reshaping the narrative around sexuality education in #SouthSudan🇸🇸. Discover more👇

🌍 Find out more about Social Work Internship Programme interns in #SouthAfrica🇿🇦! 🎓✨ This program not only provided hands-on experience to social work students from The University of the Western Cape and beyond, giving them a platform to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, but it also brought tremendous value to our team. For eight months, these dedicated interns conducted numerous sessions and campaigns, enabling us to expand our reach within the Cape Flats and deepen our community impact. From community development to advocacy, these future changemakers made a profound impact while gaining invaluable skills. 💪🌱 Find out more here👉: https://lnkd.in/epuHVgfU With Fondation BNP Paribas, RCS Group & People's Postcode Lottery

🌟 Meet Yonela Sibhene 🌟 Yonela, from Langa in Cape Town, #SouthAfrica🇿🇦, joined our Basic Computer Training in July and achieved an incredible 100% on her final test! 💻✨ She didn’t stop there—she recently completed the Intermediate course to further improve her skills, all while working as a factory packer. Read her story! With Fondation BNP Paribas & RCS Group

✔️Learn all about the 2024 Whitaker Peace Tournament that we held in Juba, #SouthSudan🇸🇸. Organized in partnership with the South Sudan football association with support from the Svenska Postkodlotteriets Stiftelse (The Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation), the event brought together over over 500 youth while indirectly impacting more than 15,000 individuals, fostering peacebuilding and trauma healing dialogues alongside competitive football!⚽️ #postkodeffekten

⚽ The Whitaker Peace Tournament 2024 Concludes in Juba, #SouthSudan🇸🇸! WPDI, in partnership with the Svenska Postkodlotteriets Stiftelse (The Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation) and the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA), wrapped up the month-long event that featured 24 teams (12 boys' and 12 girls' teams) from the Protection of Civilians Site 3 and Juba, uniting youth through football to promote peace. 🏆 Winners: N-Four FC (Boys' Under-20) Al Salam FC (Boys' Finalists) Everest FC (Girls' Champions) With over 500 participants and 15,000 spectators, the tournament highlighted sports as a powerful tool for unity and community healing! #PeaceThroughSports

✔️Discover more about our leadership team's recent visit to our programs in the #UnitedStates🇺🇸 and #Mexico🇲🇽, including a special visit from our President and Founder, Forest Whitaker, to some local schools in Los Angeles and a warm welcome for our Executive Director, Caroline Descombris in Chiapas!👇 https://lnkd.in/edH3gM6y

📝 "We must not lose hope, as we already have a guiding compass: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a call to action, a framework for peace, and a powerful reminder that we all have the potential to create lasting change." On this #HumanRightsDay, Founder & CEO Forest Whitaker reflects on how human rights principles can guide us toward a future rooted in dignity, justice, and peace. https://lnkd.in/eSn98ePw