World Vision International recently announced its first ever Peacemaking and Peacebuilding awards, with a winner in each category to be announced on the International Day of Peace, September 21, every year.

The Peacebuilding Award is given to an agency or organization that excels at integrating peacebuilding into relief, development or advocacy activities and mobilising communities to build a durable peace.

The Peacemaking Award is given to an individual who has taken risks and excelled in being a catalyst in either bringing conflicted parties together or in enabling a peace process that engages peacemakers, mediators and people of moral authority.

World Vision Canada congratulates Fatmire Feka for being selected as a finalist for the Peacebuilding Award. Fatmire grew up in Kosovo during the war. Rather than remain in grief following the fighting, at the age of 11 she chose to respond. In 1999, Fatmire started the Kids for Peace Club movement, mobilizing her peers to work for peace, with World Vision lending support.

Much has happened in the last 10 years. Kids for Peace has grown beyond Kosovo and Fatmire has had the opportunity to influence many. In 2005 Fatmire was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize as part of a thousand women nomination (http://www.1000peacewomen.org/).

Fatmire has had a long connection with World Vision Canada, being selected as an “Angel of Hope” by Childview magazine and speaking to staff on several occasions. In February 2008 Fatmire joined our Youth Empowered leadership conferences, touching hundreds of youth with her message of peace. Fatmire’s message received media coverage across Canada as a result.

Fatmire is now in Canada working on her studies. In the summer of 2008 Fatmire travelled to Kenya as part of a World Vision peace and reconciliation tour following the election violence.

World Vision Canada wishes Fatmire the best as an award finalist.

Read about Fatmire’s visit to Kenya last summer.

View pictures of Youth Empowered conferences that Fatmire participated in.

Learn more about the World Vision International Peace Awards.

Youth Empowered 2008 participants can add a comment to Fatmire’s nomination (deadline is June 4th, 2009).