Growing up in Addis Ababa, Mekides Berhanu Alemu witnessed the transformative power of peacemaking firsthand through her grandfather, a community-respected mediator. His unwavering dedication to resolving conflict, from marital woes to social clashes, instilled in Alemu a deep aversion to discord and a burning desire for peace. This passion led her on an unconventional path. While five years in biomedical engineering weren’t her ultimate calling, the skills and knowledge she gained became a robust foundation for her true passion: contributing to peacebuilding. Fueled by an MBA that equipped her to tackle complex issues like mass migration and conflict, Alemu found her calling at a local civil society organisation, an organisation dedicated to human rights and good governance. There, she honed her skills and delved deeper into practical peacebuilding, spearheading in peace projects and demonstrating her exceptional talent for conflict resolution. This invaluable experience ultimately led to her prestigious appointment as a Young Women Mediation Ambassador for the Horn of Africa at IPHRD-Africa, where she now plays a crucial role in empowering young women and fostering lasting peace in a region. Today, Alemu channels her unwavering dedication through a local civil society organisation, fostering meaningful youth and women’s participation in peacebuilding. A vocal advocate for their inclusion in peace processes, she serves as a beacon of hope, a testament to the transformative power of unwavering dedication and the potential of peacemaking to shape a brighter future. 

Participant in: March 2024 Fellowship: Climate Change, Gender, and Conflict