About the Founder

The Youth for Peace Initiative was founded by Mohammad Shehadat, a Syrian changemaker, peacebuilder, and advocate for youth empowerment.

Having experienced displacement firsthand, Mohammad understands the complex challenges that young people—especially refugees—face in finding belonging, opportunity, and a voice in their communities. His journey across different cultures shaped his deep commitment to intercultural dialogue, social cohesion, and global citizenship.

Through his work with international and local organizations, Mohammad has led and contributed to initiatives focused on education, youth leadership, and peacebuilding. He believes that when young people are given the tools, trust, and space to lead, they can transform not only their own lives—but entire communities.

The Youth for Peace Initiative is a reflection of this belief: a platform built from youth, for youth, to create meaningful change rooted in empathy, collaboration, and shared humanity.

Our Team

Youth for Peace is powered by a diverse and passionate team of young leaders from different backgrounds, cultures, and lived experiences.

Our team brings together refugees and host community members, united by a shared vision of building more inclusive and peaceful societies. Each member contributes unique skills in areas such as:

• Peacebuilding and facilitation
• Project design and implementation
• Communication and storytelling
• Community engagement and outreach

What makes our team unique is not only our diversity but our ability to turn that diversity into strength through collaboration and mutual respect.

We believe in leading by example: practicing the values we promote dialogue, empathy, and cooperation in everything we do.

Behind Youth for Peace is a team of young people who bring more than just skills—they bring their stories.

We are refugees and host community members, individuals who have experienced different paths but share a common purpose: to create spaces where others feel seen, heard, and valued.

Some of us have experienced displacement.

Some have grown up witnessing division.

All of us believe in the power of dialogue and human connection.

Our strength comes from this diversity.

We don’t just talk about intercultural understanding—we live it.

In every workshop, every discussion, and every project we design, we practice listening, learning, and growing together.

At Youth for Peace, we don’t work for communities we work with them.

Together, we are building more than projects.

We are building a community of young people who believe that peace is possible and that they have a role in making it real.