March 11, 2022 – Last February, our President and Founder, Forest Whitaker, was honored to receive the 2022 International Peace Honors prize presented by PeaceTech Lab for his continued efforts to empower young people across the globe to become peacemakers and agents of change in their communities. Through WPDI, Forest Whitaker has developed educational programs in Africa and the Americas to provide educational tools and economic opportunities to young men and women in areas marked by exclusion, violence and armed conflict.
The International Peace Honors aims to pay tribute to the work of global leaders in compassion, innovation, and change-making to advance peace, prosperity, and justice around the world, celebrating people who “make philanthropy and humanitarian service a hallmark of their lives, to advance humanity and our planet.”
The President and CEO of PeaceTech Lab Sheldon Himelfarb, described Forest Whitaker as “an extraordinary change agent in the peacebuilding field… “Transforming communities from within, putting peace at the center of his youth leadership programs — these are inspirational to us all. And we hear his voice — so true and so powerful — on behalf of the voiceless. It’s a great honor for us to recognize Forest for all that he has done.”
“I have witnessed change in the most unlikely places and have seen communities healing and transforming together,” said Forest Whitaker. “Change for the better is possible even in the most difficult times and in the face of the greatest obstacles. I am hopeful and optimistic for the future and will continue to promote education, peace and reconciliation.”