Specializing in participation of youth in peacebuilding processes
Co-founder of Peace by Peace, a free access, online peacebuilding manual and your gateway to a global community of young peacebuilders!
Peace Studies education curriculum design for
Peacebuilding courses, where theory meets practice
Speaking topics:
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Peace and Conflict studies
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Peacebuilding and Human rights
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Youth, voice and agency
Award-winning Author of more than 80 books
Published in 50 languages
Over 5 million books sold
Youth as bridges,
youth build bridges
Peace Education curriculum
Anne de Graaf’s research and teaching focus on marginalized groups, as well as Peace and Conflict studies, and explore the role of voice—specifically young people’s—as a means of claiming agency in peacebuilding and conflict.
In order for sustainable peace to grow in deeply divided societies, young people need to co-create and own the necessary social change. De Graaf teaches practical, solution-oriented ways of peacebuilding, driven by the passion and energy of youth. The goal is to make UNSCR 2250 not merely a tokenized effort but an actual way to achieve peace co-created by youth.
The peacebuilding courses she designed, including Peace Lab Kosovo and Peace Lab Rwanda, inspired hundreds of students to go on and become peacebuilders themselves, working across the world for the UN, EU, NGOs and starting their own organizations. Both courses place students under the authority of local peacebuilders. Read what the students themselves say about the impact of these classes: Peace Lab Kosovo and Peace Lab Rwanda.
Student-led NGO
De Graaf’s student-led project Peace by Peace became an NGO (non-governmental organization) in 2025. The website www.peace-by-peace.com amplifies more than 100 interviews with youth peacebuilders from around the world, providing a how-to manual for young people wanting to start their own peacebuilding organizations within polarized societies.
“Whose voices are we not hearing?”
Bringing people together
De Graaf consults for several universities, helping strengthen their Peace Studies programmes. She links peacebuilders from around the world, facilitates training in peacebuilding skills such as transformative dialogue and helps design Peace Studies curriculum.
“Listen to what’s not being said.”
“It’s all about perspectives.”
“Amplifying youth voices.”
