Elise Boulding Foundation for Peace

"Peace is not merely the absence of war
but the presence of justice."

— Elise Boulding, Peace Scholar & Activist (1920–2010)

Building cultures of peace in Sierra Leone and across Africa — through community peacebuilding, human rights advocacy, and the next generation of peace leaders.

"Lasting peace grows from communities — not from the top down, but from the ground up."

Our foundation carries the vision of Elise Boulding — a towering figure in peace research who believed that peace is built in everyday life, in families, communities, and local institutions.

500+ Youth Trained
12 Communities
5+ Years Active

Rooted in Sierra Leone.
Reaching Across Africa.

The Elise Boulding Foundation for Peace was founded with a singular conviction: that sustainable peace in post-conflict societies requires deep community investment, not just political agreements or external interventions.

Named after the pioneering peace scholar and sociologist Elise Boulding, our foundation brings her life's philosophy to the communities of Sierra Leone — a nation that survived one of West Africa's most devastating civil wars and continues its journey toward lasting peace and reconciliation.

We work at the intersection of peacebuilding, human rights, and governance, engaging youth, women, traditional leaders, and civil society to build the social fabric that sustains peace.

Community-centred, locally-led peacebuilding
Human rights and dignity for all
Youth leadership and civic empowerment
Dialogue, reconciliation and restorative justice

Programs & Projects

Our programs address the structural and social roots of conflict, building resilience in communities most vulnerable to violence and exclusion.

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Flagship Program

Community Peace Architecture

We work with local leaders, women's groups, and youth associations to design community-based conflict early-warning systems and establish local peace committees that address disputes before they escalate.

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Education & Capacity

Peace Education Initiative

Our school and community education programmes introduce children and young people to non-violent conflict resolution, empathy, and civic responsibility — the foundations of a peaceful society.

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Human Rights

Rights & Governance Watch

We monitor human rights conditions, provide legal literacy training, and support civic engagement so that marginalized communities can hold institutions accountable and access justice.

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Leadership

Youth Peace Leaders Network

A structured fellowship for Sierra Leonean youth to develop peacebuilding skills, connect with regional networks, and lead grassroots reconciliation projects in their own communities.

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Pan-African Dialogue

African Peace Dialogues

We convene cross-border forums and research partnerships that connect peacebuilders across West Africa — sharing lessons, strategies, and solidarity across national boundaries.

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Healing & Recovery

Post-Conflict Reconciliation

Drawing on Sierra Leone's own experience of transitional justice, we support truth-telling, memorialization, and psychosocial healing among communities still living with the wounds of war.

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News & Stories

Updates from our programs, reflections from the field, and analysis on peace and security in Sierra Leone and the wider region.

June 2025

Youth Peace Leaders Complete Their Fellowship Year

Twelve young peacebuilders from across Sierra Leone concluded the inaugural cohort of our fellowship programme, presenting community projects in Freetown, Bo, and Kenema.

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March 2025

New Partnership with West African Civil Society Network

The Foundation has joined a coalition of civil society organisations from eight West African countries to advance regional peacebuilding and early warning mechanisms.

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January 2025

Peace Education Reaches 1,000 Students Across Five Schools

Our Peace Education Initiative expanded to five secondary schools in the Western Area and the provinces, bringing non-violent conflict resolution training to over a thousand students.

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Get Involved

Peace is everyone's work. Whether you volunteer, partner, or donate — your involvement sustains the communities we serve.

Contact Us

We'd Love to Hear From You

Whether you're interested in our programmes, want to collaborate, or simply want to learn more about our work — reach out. We respond to all messages within 3–5 working days.

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Location

Freetown, Sierra Leone
Western Area Province

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Email

info@eliseboulding-foundation.org

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Phone / WhatsApp

+232 — (contact for details)

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Social Media

@EliseBouldingFP on Facebook, X, LinkedIn