Peacebuilder's Pulse Check|Global Connections Call Notes 6.4.2025
In our June Global Connections call, Safiya Ibn Garba invited our community to pause and turn inward. Together, we reflected on the personal weight of this work, the selflessness it often requires, and the importance of caring for our own well-being. Through simple exercises, honest sharing, and small moments of gratitude, Safiya reminded us: the world needs peacebuilders who are whole, rested, and renewed. We invite you to read the transcript below or click here to watch the 90 minute call recording.
Call Nuggets
Peacebuilding requires deep passion, but it can also be draining. Without intentional self-care, even the most committed leaders risk exhaustion.
As peacebuilders, we often define ourselves by the service we offer to others. Safiya reminded us to also affirm and celebrate who we are as individuals. ““We give, we carry, we empathize — but we rarely stop to ask: how am I doing?”
Creating space for reflection, peer support, and shared stories helps us renew our personal resilience. “We need to find community — spaces like this — to listen, to share, and to support one another.”
Full transcript
Hollister | Euphrates Institute:
Good morning from the East Coast of the United States. Good afternoon and good evening to those of you around the world. We're so glad you're here today.
As you know, we meet once a month as a global family, and we’re glad you took the time to join us today. Last month, I almost skipped over the moment of silence, but I won’t skip it today. It feels very important. I invite everyone into a moment of stillness and silence, to settle in however is most comfortable. I’ll bring us back together with my voice.
Recently in our Peace Practice Alliance calls, Krista has reminded us to imagine an empty chair or rectangle in the Zoom room, representing those who are part of our community but not here today. This could be family members you're celebrating, honoring, or remembering—perhaps people who have passed recently. We’re embracing all of you and everyone who extends beyond the borders of this rectangle today.
Thank you for being with us. Before I turn it over to Issah, let’s take a moment to share in the chat: one word about how you’re showing up today, how you’re feeling.
Issah:
At the height of our peacebuilding work, we give out so much energy. We’re always holding space for others—facilitating dialogues, carrying the weight of divided communities, empathizing with victims. And in all of this, we often forget that we, too, are human.
We pour from our own hearts and give our time to everyone, responding to conflict, hate, grief, injustice, pain—yet we rarely pause to ask how we ourselves are doing.
It’s important to remember that, as peacebuilders striving for a better world, we are not immune to exhaustion, self-doubt, or burnout.
We need space to come together and think collectively about how to care for ourselves in the midst of everything happening. Today, I’m entering this room to reflect deeply on my own state as a peacebuilder, as someone working to promote freedom of religion and belief and interfaith harmony. This check-in isn’t a luxury. It's essential if we are to continue this important work and witness the change we hope for.
I invite all of us to open up to this space, engage openly, and participate in this discussion. Thank you very much.
Hollister | Euphrates Institute:
Now, I’m very excited to introduce Safiya Ibn Garba, a remarkable peacebuilder, educator, and advocate. For over 25 years, she has helped communities heal, grow, and thrive through honest dialogue, meaningful education, and grassroots empowerment.
As the founder of Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative in Nigeria, she’s reached over 4 million girls, women, boys, and men, equipping them with tools to build stronger futures.
Her work has taken her to over 50 countries, where she’s designed programs to bridge divides, leading with courage and compassion. She’s personally mentored over 20,000 young leaders, guiding them to step into their own roles as changemakers very much aligned with our mission at Euphrates.
Currently, she’s leading projects in Rwanda, Morocco, and Nigeria, championing youth empowerment, gender equity, and collective security. She’s also pursuing her doctorate in peace studies, exploring how art can help heal conflict zones.
Safiya brings wisdom, generosity, and a powerful example of compassionate peacebuilding. Today, she’ll share her story and some practical tools we can all use to nurture ourselves so we’re better able to do the important work in our personal and professional lives.
Safiya, we’re so excited to have you. The floor is yours.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Thank you, Hollister. Hi everyone! It's amazing to see you, and thank you for being here, whether you woke up early or stayed up late. I already feel the warmth which is rare on Zoom so thank you.
Thank you for the kind introduction and grounding, Isa, and congratulations to sylvia who was the first person I spoke to at Euphrates. It’s a privilege to be back on the Global Connection call, my second time now. I’ve found these calls both challenging and enriching, and I hope today will also bring challenge and growth for us all.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
I’ll start by sharing a bit about myself.
As Hollister mentioned, I’m Nigerian, and I see some fellow Nigerians here which is beautiful. But the beauty of peacebuilding is that we transcend borders, including the ones we create for ourselves. I was recently reflecting with someone that when a child is born, the first cry sounds the same regardless of race or religion. The blood that flows through our veins is the same for all of us. We are all human.
My formative years played a significant role in leading me to this work. I was born into a family of three girls in Northern Nigeria. My mother was widowed at a very young age my father passed away when I was just three years old. From that point, my mother had to navigate life on her own, raising her daughters with strength, hard work, and incredible resilience.
She was a teacher, and I remember even small things, like how she insisted we underline or write our homework headings in red ink. That attention to detail reflected the work ethic and independence she instilled in us. We supported one another, and that service-oriented mindset carried into my adulthood.
When I talk to old schoolmates, many say, “Of course you’re in social impact work it makes sense.” But I didn’t even fully realize it myself at the time. Growing up, I witnessed systemic issues in my community that fueled my desire to contribute. Yes, I had access to good education and privilege, but I constantly wondered: how many others have this? How many do not?
The generation before mine was one where people intermarried across religious and cultural divides. But over time, I witnessed those divides widening in Nigeria. And today, unfortunately, those divisions have gotten even more extreme.
“Growing up, I witnessed systemic issues in my community that fueled my desire to contribute. Yes, I had access to good education and privilege, but I constantly wondered: how many others have this? How many do not?”
As I founded Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative and got involved in peacebuilding, the need only grew. Instead of seeing improvements, we saw the situation becoming more complex and urgent.Eventually, that work led me to opportunities beyond Nigeria. I was invited to Jordan to join a peacebuilding organization, initially as a volunteer. At first, I hesitated. All I knew of the Middle East was what I saw on TV, conflict, danger. I even laugh now remembering how nervous I was boarding that first plane, worrying something would happen. But when I arrived, my eyes were opened. That transformation was priceless.
I realized that alongside my work in women’s empowerment, I also needed to address the rising tide of division and conflict. A country with over 300 million people and so much talent why were we not moving forward? Why was the continent struggling?
So, I mainstreamed peacebuilding into my work. It became equally important to me as sustainable development. Eventually, I moved to the Middle East and lived there for nearly 13 years, immersed in new cultures and new perspectives.
Travel opens your mind. When you meet people face-to-face, you realize that so many of our fears are based on perception, misinformation, and stereotypes. Even when we’re not in direct violent conflict, division still thrives through misunderstanding.
This work is not easy. It requires passion. If you don’t have passion, you will burn out. Which brings us to today’s focus: taking care of ourselves as peacebuilders.
Why do I do this work? Because I love it. It fulfills me. The feeling of someone walking up to you after you speak for 20 minutes and simply saying, “Thank you. You made a difference.” That’s what keeps me going.
I can’t control everything, but I can make a difference. And I’ve been blessed to see that difference, even with people here on this call whom I’ve worked with in peacebuilding. That’s why I do what I do.
Yes, I have degrees and awards you can read about on LinkedIn, but what truly matters to me is knowing that I’ve helped create change.
Hollister | Euphrates Institute:
Safiya, I’d love to ask: is there one particular project or area you’re especially passionate about right now? And how can we support you?
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Absolutely. After 12+ years in the Middle East, I’ve now moved to Rwanda. In addition to still supporting the Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative, I also launched a consultancy under my own name. We’re doing several things:
Running a 2025 Peacebuilding Academy, bringing organizations together from two countries.
Providing organizational development and capacity-building support for small and medium nonprofit organizations.
Partnering with organizations promoting women’s leadership, gender equity, and peacebuilding.
I also convene the Kabil Africa Think Tank, which currently has a presence in 33 African countries. Through Kabil, we help youth engage in policy advocacy in ways that speak both to them and to policymakers. It's all about bridging that communication gap.
Hollister | Euphrates Institute:
And what are some of the challenges you face right now that might resonate with all of us who do this work?
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
There are many challenges, and they come at every stage. But honestly, one of the biggest is managing your own discouragement. Sometimes you feel like you're not making progress, especially when conflict seems to worsen globally.
Another big challenge is convincing others partners, funders, decision-makers of the value of this work. Peacebuilding takes time. You can't expect communities in deep conflict to be reconciled in six months. But often funders want quick, tangible results.
To overcome these challenges:
First, care for yourself. As Isa reminded us earlier, you cannot give from an empty place. Community and support like this very space are essential.
Second, help others understand the value of your work. Use both data (like the cost of violence vs. peace) and powerful personal stories. Testimonies from those directly impacted can be incredibly compelling.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Thank you, everyone. Now, let’s jump into the heart of today’s session: a Peacebuilder Pulse Check. Let’s start with a very simple exercise. I’d like you to literally check your pulse. You can feel it like medical professionals do, and just take note of what’s happening. Is it steady? Is it racing? Is it calm? Please drop your observations in the chat.
Participants (chat responses):
Steady.
Good.
After the wedding this weekend—still steady, surprisingly!
Excited but calm.
Relaxed.
Normal.
Calm.
Steady as well.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Wonderful. I’m obviously not a medical doctor, but we know that taking our pulse helps check for signs of wellness or symptoms that something might be off.
Today, we’re using this metaphorically as peacebuilders. We want to take our pulse not medically, but personally to reflect on where we are in this challenging work.
Now, let’s explore identity—because who we are greatly affects how we show up as peacebuilders. I want to reference a definition from the American Psychological Association (APA), which describes identity as: “An individual’s sense of self, defined by physical, psychological, and interpersonal characteristics, and affiliations such as ethnicity or social roles.”
We’re going to do a brief exercise often called the Identity Flower. I’ve asked sylvia to drop a link in the chat that will take you to a Mentimeter poll where you can anonymously share some of your identity elements.
Your answers might include your gender, profession, faith, family roles, nationality, and more. You can enter up to three or four responses.
As you’re adding your words, we’ll see them appear and grow in size depending on how many people select similar answers. (Responses begin to appear on Mentimeter):
Woman, mother, spiritual, beautiful, father, educator, leader, advocate, race, faith, nationality.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Very interesting! We’re seeing a lot of women here—and a lot of mothers. Spirituality is also coming up strongly.
One thing I notice is that many of your responses are relational—your role in connection to others: mother, father, leader, friend.
Edson:
Yes, many of these are physical or relational aspects of identity.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Exactly. When people reflect on who they are, they often first name physical or relational qualities. This shows us how deeply connected identity is to perception—which is central to peacebuilding work.
Sally:
I also notice how relational most of the words are it’s about how we see ourselves in relationship with others.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Beautiful observation. That’s important because so much conflict stems from how people view and categorize one another based on identity, stereotypes, and existing narratives.
James:
I’m seeing two poles in these identities: one reflecting our shared similarities and one reflecting our unique individuality.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Yes, both are present and important. I encourage you to use this type of activity in your own work. It opens up powerful conversations.
Now let’s move from identity to something even more personal:
What are the challenges that uniquely affect us as peacebuilders?
Again, using the Mentimeter link, I want you to share words or phrases that describe the difficulties you face in your peacebuilding work, what weighs on you, what drains you, what frustrates you.
Take a moment to reflect before submitting. (Participants submit their challenges):
Burnout.
Unrealistic expectations.
Fatigue.
Lack of financial resources.
Personal safety concerns.
Slow change.
Community resistance.
Difficulty measuring impact.
Feeling helpless when communities don’t respond.
The cycle of violence repeating itself.
Lack of government support.
Personal trauma.
Victor:
As a peacebuilder, I must first have personal peace. My own peace shines outward, allowing others in my community to see and follow. That personal peace helps me build interpersonal peace with friends and others, which ultimately builds communal peace.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Beautifully said - personal peace as the foundation for all other peacebuilding.
Faisal:
For me, the painful part is when the people you are helping are not ready to accept change. I work with bonded laborers and many have huge debts. We try to free them, but some are not ready to leave the system. That really hurts after so much effort.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Yes, that is so difficult when those you serve resist the very change you are offering.
James:
One of my greatest frustrations is seeing cycles of violence repeat themselves. Years after successful dialogues with students, new groups emerge who fall into the same political manipulation. It’s disheartening to feel like your earlier work didn’t last.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Thank you, James. These are real and difficult truths.
Edson also mentioned that he noticed many of these struggles are shared among us, showing how universal these challenges are for peacebuilders.
What struck me is that out of all the responses we collected only about three mentioned personal well-being. The vast majority focused on external challenges: the work, the community, the conflict.
That tells me something: peacebuilders are deeply selfless by nature. But I asked you to check your pulse yet even here, most of you are still thinking about others.
Now, I want us to shift the focus inward, just for a moment.
Take 10 seconds. Think: What concerns you personally as a peacebuilder? Not your work. You. Please drop your answers in the chat. (Participants begin adding reflections to chat):
Fatigue.
My own mental health.
Fear for my grandchildren and loved ones.
Feeling irrelevant despite my responsibilities.
Struggling to find time for breaks.
Burnout.
Personal trauma.
Helplessness in meeting my own needs.
Not taking time for myself because I’m so focused on others.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Yes. Keep these coming. They are so important. Even now, I see many of you still referencing your work but it’s starting to shift. You’re allowing yourselves to acknowledge your own exhaustion, your fears, your needs.
We are human. And if we don’t intentionally care for ourselves, eventually we won’t have anything left to give.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Now, we’re going to take this even deeper. You’ve reflected on your challenges. Now I want you to reflect on your value.
I’m inviting you to write yourself a short love letter. Don’t worry, you won’t be sharing this with anyone unless you want to. For the next five minutes, slow down, breathe, Write a letter to yourself.
In your letter, say why you’re proud of yourself. What do you appreciate about yourself? What is beautiful, strong, or worthy in you?
You’re welcome to handwrite it, type it, or if you’d like, Hollister has shared a link in the chat to a website where you can send yourself a digital love letter that will arrive at a future date when you might need encouragement.
Hollister | Euphrates Institute:
Yes! This tool allows you to write your letter and have it emailed back to you at a later date, a beautiful way to support yourself in the future.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Beautiful. A time capsule for your encouragement. Now, take this time. I’ll remain quiet for the next five minutes so you can write.
Okay, time is up, though I realize many of you likely need more time to finish writing. What I’ve seen so far in the chat is wonderful and again, many of you are still so selfless, writing about the work you do for others as a way of appreciating yourselves.
That’s beautiful but I want you to also take this exercise as ongoing homework. Make time regularly to write these letters to yourself. You can even incorporate this into team exercises where you share appreciation for each other. You’d be surprised how transformative that can be in building stronger teams.
Let’s now shift into some simple ways to care for ourselves. I call them “silly” but in reality, they are powerful.
Sometimes, the hardest thing for peacebuilders to do is simply sit still and breathe for five minutes. But that's exactly what we need.
I’m going to share some self-care options. You’ll see them in the Mentimeter poll. Please vote for which ones feel most helpful for you right now. (Options appear for voting, and participants respond):
Prioritize mental health by seeing a professional
Gratitude journaling.
Play with a photo app on your phone.
Pray.
Sit outside quietly.
Play with or talk to a pet.
Binge-watch a show.
Arts and crafts.
Dance.
Sing out loud.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Look at these results. Many of you are drawn to gratitude journaling and prayer. You are all so responsible and formal because you carry such deep responsibility in your work. And yet, no one is choosing arts and crafts! No one is choosing silly creative play which tells me again how focused we are on duty.
Let me challenge you gently: gratitude journaling is beautiful, but be sure you're not only journaling about the people you serve. Be grateful for yourself. For your talents. For the way your energy lights up a room. For the joy others feel when they’re around you. Be grateful for the spaces you’ve created, the people you’ve helped not because of the work itself, but because of who you are.
Victor:
I wrote earlier that I’m grateful for the decision I made to choose peace, and to inspire my community to do the same.
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Thank you for highlighting that, Victor. It's heard loud and clear.
Now, I’d love for us to share even more ideas. In the same Mentimeter, please add any other self-care practices you’ve found helpful. (Participants share more ideas):
Thai massage.
Hairdresser and a good meal.
Sitting outside in nature.
Taking photos in nature.
Writing in a gratitude journal and praying for myself and my family.
Doing absolutely nothing.
Walking.
Writing poetry.
Connecting with community.
Reading inspiring stories.
Taking myself on a date.
Lazing around.
Watching comedies.
Pampering myself.
Breathing deeply.
Sleeping.
Long walks.
Laughing.
Scenic drives.
Spending time with friends.
“You don’t even think of yourself in the midst of the selfless work you are doing — but the world needs you whole, rested, and renewed.”
Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF:
Wonderful ideas. Thank you all for sharing. This list is a resource for our whole community, and I encourage you to continue contributing. We’ll package and share it later. Now, as we begin to close, I want to leave you with this:
A healthy pulse means you're alive. But a good, steady pulse means you are well. We, as peacebuilders, must be intentional about checking our pulse and caring for ourselves.
If we don’t, we risk creating a world where those causing harm continue to spread division while those committed to healing are simply too exhausted to help anymore. Take care of yourself. You matter. The world needs you whole, rested, and renewed.
Closing
Hollister | Euphrates Institute:
Safiya, thank you so much. This was incredibly meaningful and unique. You’ve offered not only insights but also practical, joyful tools for us to sustain our work with resilience.
Thank you everyone for participating fully or as Safiya says, “full-icipating.” That sense of joy you brought today is itself a peace practice.
I invite you all to fill out the feedback survey if you’re able. And as always, donations are welcome to support this community’s important work.
Please mark your calendars: our next Global Connection call will be on July 2nd, where we’ll hear from Peace Practice Alliance participants sharing their projects and impact. And on June 27th, we’ll have a special fireside chat honoring Sylvia as she transitions from her formal role though she’ll remain a part of this family, of course.
Thank you again, everyone and a very special thanks to Safiya. You are such a gift to this community.