January 15, 2026 – WPDI is deeply grateful to announce two important developments: BNP Paribas has renewed its support for WPDI France for the next three years (2026-2028), and has also pledged $150,000 in emergency support for our program in Chiapas, Mexico.
For more than eight years, BNP Paribas and WPDI have advanced a shared vision that first took shape in 2018 in South Africa, when the bank’s partnership enabled WPDI to expand into a new country and fully implement its Youth Peacemaker Network model in the Cape Town area. That first collaboration was rooted in a simple but powerful belief: when young people gain access to education, skills, and opportunity, they can become both peacemakers and change-makers within their own communities.
Since then, our partnership has grown far beyond a single country or initiative. Together, we have nurtured hope and innovation in places where opportunity can feel out of reach, from classrooms and community centers to digital learning spaces and local enterprises. Through BNP Paribas’ continued support, WPDI has expanded its programs to reach thousands of youth, women, and educators across continents.
In 2021, that collaboration took on new meaning when Forest Whitaker, WPDI’s Founder and UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, met with young people and local leaders in Marseille and Seine-Saint-Denis. Those encounters marked the beginning of a new chapter in France, grounded in the same values that have always guided our partnership: inclusion, dignity, and empowerment.
Since its establishment, WPDI France has demonstrated a sustained and tangible impact across the local community. From the beginning, BNP Paribas has played a central role in this work, not only as our main partner in Seine-Saint-Denis, but also by hosting WPDI France within its local branch Aubervilliers Quatre Chemins. This shared space has allowed our Community Learning Center to become a cornerstone for learning, opportunity, and empowerment in the neighborhood. Our impact is strengthened by the active involvement of BNP Paribas experts, who offer mentorship sessions and also lead a range of business-oriented workshops that help our beneficiaries develop practical skills and confidence. These close ties stand as a tangible symbol of a partnership built on trust, proximity, and a shared vision of peace.
As the world faces new uncertainties, BNP Paribas has again chosen to act compassionately and purposefully. Their emergency contribution ensures that WPDI can respond swiftly to the needs of the most vulnerable, maintaining programs that offer stability, connection, and hope.
Partnerships like these remind us that peacebuilding is not a solitary effort, but a collective endeavor made possible by those who believe in the transformative power of humanity and solidarity. As this partnership continues to evolve, it also reflects the broader mission of the BNP Paribas Foundation: to open doors for disadvantaged youth and ensure that every young person, regardless of background, has the chance to learn, grow, and shape a better future. WPDI extends its deepest thanks to BNP Paribas and the BNP Paribas Foundation for their longstanding support, trust, and commitment to empowering the next generation of peacemakers and leaders around the world.
