In a world where conflicts often escalate into violence, the young Ethiopian Meseret Tadesse spent years on the sidelines—and sometimes right in the middle of the chaos. But a dramatic turn in her life led her from a path of aggression to a role as a peacemaker. How can someone who once took part in destructive riots now be the face of reconciliation in her community? Meseret’s story is one of transformation and hope.

Meseret Tadesse grew up in an environment where conflicts often ended in violence. In her community, it was not common to calmly talk things through when disagreements arose. “One example is what happened after the killing of the local musician Hachalu Hundessa in 2020,” she says. The young people in her neighbourhood were so angry that they resorted to violence on a large scale. Hundreds of people, mostly young, lost their lives.

Meseret was there. She even took part in the violence. “We responded in the wrong way to injustice,” she now reflects. “We should have chosen a peaceful path, just like Martin Luther King Jr.”

The turning point in Meseret’s life

In 2022, everything changed for Meseret. At her church, she attended a training in Nonviolent Communication, part of the JISRA project run by Mensen met een Missie. During this training, Meseret learned how conflicts can be resolved without violence. It opened her eyes to a completely different approach to problems, one that fosters calm and understanding instead of escalation.

These new insights completely changed Meseret’s attitude and behaviour. “Where I used to get angry quickly and was inclined to respond with violence, I learned to be calmer and more thoughtful.” She began to look at situations from different perspectives and chose to approach conflict in a positive way. This was a huge transformation, not only for herself, but also for the people around her.

A new role as Ambassador of Peace

Meseret’s community quickly noticed the change. Where she had once been part of the problem, she was now part of the solution. Her new, calm and mediating attitude stood out, and she was soon seen as someone who not only spoke about peace but also put it into practice. This set her apart from others and made her a natural point of contact in times of conflict.

Where I used to get angry quickly and was inclined to respond with violence, I learned to stay calm and act more thoughtfully.

A conflict at her school in 2023 highlighted Meseret’s new role as a peacemaker. “A group of Muslims and a group of Christians got into a huge argument, and it threatened to spiral out of control. So I decided to step in.” Thanks to the skills she had learned during the training, Meseret was able to mediate effectively. She first spoke to the Muslim group. “Although I am a Christian myself, they listened to me and took my appeal to calm down seriously.” The Christian group was also persuaded by Meseret and chose reconciliation. “That situation eventually earned me the nickname ‘Ambassador of Peace.’”

The power of awareness

The training provided by the JISRA project has profoundly changed Meseret’s life. “I am now an advocate for change. I work to resolve conflicts and actively contribute to building a culture of peace and understanding in my community. I am proud of that.”

Meseret Tadesse shows the impact such a training can have. Not only for her, but for everyone around her.