Regional Coordinator for Africa-Great Lakes and URI Global Women’s Lead
Despina is a social scientist in peace and conflict, with a special interest in women and gender programming. She coordinates the URI work of over 80 grassroots interfaith organizations doing different social actions in the Great Lakes countries of Africa.
Despina is a mediator, a community organizer, trainer, and mentor in peace and conflict work spaces. Growing up on a continent that sometimes fuses strong customs with religion to deter the full participation of women, Despina has a passion for addressing issues that support women and girls to achieve their full potential as well as amplifying the usually disadvantaged grassroots voices to the different policy platforms.
She is widely travelled which has been essential for her personal growth, cultural immersion, and broadening the social-cultural perspectives and appreciation of others in society. She is also a contributor to different literature in the areas of interfaith, women, environment and peacebuilding work.
