Delegates pose for a photo during the PEACE 2026 World Social Forum (WSF) held at Cotonou, Benin, West Africa on August 8.
Dimapur, August 12 (MExN): Ajit Rajagopal, a Master of Social Work (MSW) student at the North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR), represented India at PEACE 2026 during the World Social Forum (WSF) held from August 4 to August 8 in Cotonou, Benin, West Africa.
Rajagopal attended as part of the Peace Builders Forum India delegation, which included Rajaji, Anil Hebbar, Indira Das Gupta Cherukuni, Priya, Dr. Ravichandran, Dr. Mani, Dr. Jill Carr-Harris, Aneesh Kumar, Jenmajay Singh, and Vishwan Cherukuni, alongside representatives from various partner organisations.
PEACE 2026 was developed as a collaborative initiative by organizations dedicated to peacebuilding, nonviolence, social justice, and inclusive development. Key co-organizers including Rethinking African Security (RRAS), Home for Humanity, Ekta Parishad, the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation (MGCF), the International Land Coalition, the Gandhigram Rural Institute, and the Peace Builders Forum India conducted a series of workshops during the event.
The initiative convened grassroots movements, peacebuilders, educators, women leaders, youth, and advocates for marginalized communities. Discussions focused on interconnected themes such as peacebuilding and nonviolence, women’s leadership, youth leadership, peace education, and nonviolent, inclusive economic development.
Key workshop topics examined local cultural and traditional values in grassroots peacebuilding, women’s contributions to social change, youth-led nonviolent action, practical peace education strategies for academic and community settings, and economic models driven by social justice, cooperation, and environmental sustainability. Participating organizations emphasized international exchange, networking, mentorship, and sustained cross-border collaboration among peacebuilders.
Highlighting the institution's commitment to global engagement, NEISSR noted that Rajagopal’s participation aligns with its focus on experiential learning and equipping social work students to address social challenges at local, national, and international levels.
This participation adds to NEISSR’s expanding international presence, following the participation of NEISSR Principal Dr. Fr. C.P. Anto in COP29 in Azerbaijan in 2024. The institute stated that such international engagements bridge social work education, peacebuilding, and community development with global movements.
