International Steering Group (ISG)
The International Steering Group (ISG) consists of 7 members: 5 members are active young people within member organizations coming from different regions and 2 members are from the Secretariat.
The ISG’s main function is to make strategic decisions on planning of activities and decide priorities and thematic orientation, taking into consideration members and affiliates needs, concerns and proposals.
The ISG also advises on decisions related to hiring of paid interns (or staff in the future when financially possible), fundraising and other financial decisions.
The ISG is in charge of selecting its new members, in consultation with the members, board and secretariat.
Current ISG Members
Paula Ramirez Diazgranados was born in Bogotá (Colombia). She holds an M.A. in Conflict Resolution and works as Peace-Builder and Peace Educator through expressive arts in order to empower communities of women, children and youth victims of sexual trafficking, torture and displacement. She has working experience in Colombia, Nepal, India and Thailand. In 2010 with Fundación Escuelas de Paz, she coordinated the International Institute on Peace Education in Colombia and since then, she has been active member of the International Steering Group of the UNOY Peacebuilders.
Rahel Weldeab is a member of the Central Council of the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS), where she also heads their Foreign Affairs Department. She is the Pan African Youth Union (PYU) Vice-President for East Africa and the Indian Ocean, as well as a member of the International Steering Group of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY Peacebuilders). Having studied public administration and political science at the University of Asmara, Rahel specializes in peacebuilding, gender issues, youth advocacy, citizen journalism and issues revolving around active youth citizenship for peace and sustainable development in the Horn of Africa. The National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS) is a democratic, non-profit, and non-governmental organization that stands for the betterment of Eritrean youth, with the mission of organizing and building a versatile youth that is aware and proud of their culture, identity, heritage and history.
Hovhannes Jonas Grigoryan holds a MA in Sociology from Yerevan State University, where he is currently working towards his PhD on ethnic communication while teaching at the Faculty of Sociology. Hovhannes is a Co-Founder and Co-President of YERITAC – an Armenian youth organisation actively involved in local and international youth projects in the spheres of democracy, youth participation, peacebuilding, health protection, r esearch and analysis, international communication and capacity building. So far, in the framework of YERITAC, Hovhannes has participated in around 20 trainings, seminars, and other youth events on numerous topics including peacebuilding and advocacy all around Europe. Since 2007 YERITAC is also an active member of UNOY Peacebuilders, its members have participated in a number of events, organized by UNOY, in addition YERITAC hosted a partnership project feasibility visit in Yerevan, Armenia in November 2008. Apart from teaching and leading an NGO, Hovhannes is also deeply involved in the social surveys and researches and leads a group of young research managers, working under the trademark of IPSC.
Nikki Al Ben Santos Delfin was born in Tuguegarao City, Philippines. He has a BA in Social Sciences major in Political Science and Sociology from the University of the Philippines. He is currently working for the Gaston Zaballa Ortigas Peace Institute that founded the Generation Peace Youth Network (GenPeace). GenPeace is a broad network of peace and human rights organisations engaged in a youth-led advocacy towards a just and lasting peace. Its main goal is to promote youth participation in peacebuilding.
He is also involved in disarmament initiatives and is a steering committee member of the Philippine Action Network on Small Arms that work towards an international treaty on arms transfers. He coordinates the Philippine Campaign against Cluster Munitions, a member of Cluster Munitions Coalition. Apart from taking part in disarmament initiatives, Nikki also handles peace and human rights education workshops for youth leaders in the Philippines.
Mohamed Sillah Sesay has contributed immensely towards promoting the participation of Sierra Leone and African Young People in decision making process, currently serving in the capacity as the National Coordinator of the Young Leaders of Sierra Leone Network, an alliance of Sierra Leonean Young Professionals at home and in the Diaspora all towards grooming ourselves for the future leadership of our country www.youngleaders.saloneyouth.net and Consulting on youth issues for The Ministry of Education Youth and Sports and UNFPA in Sierra Leone.
Over the past years he has participated and contributed to several workshops and conferences internationally. He has also received several awards such as the International Extra Mile Award that was presented to me by the Youth Crime Watch of America in Miami Florida and the 2006 National Children of Excellence Award that was presented to him by the Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s affaires for his invaluable and excellence service towards promoting the activities of the Children of Sierra Leone. Mohamed studied Peace and Community Development Studies.
