January 2026 Newsletter

As we begin a new year, we reflect on the lessons carried forward and look ahead to the work, conversations, and collaborations that will shape the months to come.

In case you missed it:

UPEACE NY and Amplifier Art at the UN!

UPEACE NY and Amplifier Art started off the year with a visit to the United Nations to begin plans for an art installation as part of our Peace is a Practice Global Arts Campaign! More to come on this exciting initiative. If you'd like to get involved, reach out to our Program Director, Krista Smith, at ksmith@upeaceny.org

Applications for YLP are open!

Applications for the Young Leaders for Peace (YLP) programme are still open. YLP offers high school students an immersive experience in peace education, leadership, and global engagement, bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds to learn, reflect, and build community.

Teachers College second cohort at the University for Peace.

Building on a strong academic partnership, the University for Peace once again welcomed a cohort of graduate students from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2026. Hosted at UPEACE Headquarters in Costa Rica, the course continued to bridge academic learning and peacebuilding practice, offering students direct engagement with locally grounded perspectives and practitioners. The ongoing collaboration reflects a shared commitment between UPEACE and Teachers College to experiential, practice oriented peace education that connects global theory with real world contexts.

Middle East Children’s Institute Receives UPEACE SDG Certification.

The University for Peace SDG Certification Model recognizes institutions that demonstrate a strong commitment to peace, justice, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Grounded in UPEACE’s mission and values, the certification process supports organizations in aligning their work with global peace and sustainability frameworks while strengthening accountability, impact, and international credibility. We are pleased to share that the Middle East Children’s Institute (MECI) has become the first organization certified through this program. Founded by Lola Nashashibi Grace, MECI was recognized for its dedicated work supporting children and families affected by conflict, and for its leadership in advancing education, dignity, and resilience in challenging contexts.

Reflections on Peace:

From Capital to Peace: Insights from the Global Center for Peace Innovation bi-monthly

Webinar. As the final webinar of 2025 organized by the Global Center for Peace Innovation, the most recent UPEACE dialogue encouraged the exploration of the growing use of innovative finance in situations of uncertainty and declining traditional sources of funding for peacebuilding. In conversation with UPEACE NY Executive Director Melissa Wild, Heather McGee, the Chief Executive Officer of 17 Asset Management, expressed her insights gained from her organization’s experience and from CaribGrow, a place-based investment strategy that enhances food systems across the Caribbean. Her presentation underscored the potential of well-designed capital that not only moves past the extractive mindset but also addresses societal and environmental issues as real-world risk. This

dialogue ended the year by encouraging peacebuilders to consider how they can participate in improving global financial markets through innovating financing and peace literacy as well as encouraging investors to consider their impact on people and planet through a systems approach to peacebuilding.