Dylan Mathews, Peace Direct (UK)

There's something special about the #ShiftThePower community. These are people who aren't waiting for the system to correct itself, and who don't hark back to the time when aid money flowed. Because they know that the “good old days” weren't really that good after all. They've always known that the system wasn't designed to support and lift up local communities so they work, without fanfare or recognition, to build a better future for us all. What #ShiftThePower offers them is a place and space to connect and learn from others, and this is why I am so excited to be joining the Possible Now Summit in Nepal in December.

At Peace Direct, we work with some of the most remarkable activists and changemakers, working in conflict-affected countries around the world. They are the epitome of the Possible Now ethos, people working at the edges of the system, in places which much of the Global North appears to care little about and in communities fearing for their lives. They embody hope, perseverance, creativity and an unshakeable belief in humanity. That's why we are bringing 50 of them to Nepal. They already know the power of their communities and they are keen to share lessons from their contexts of what has worked to build more peaceful societies, even in the midst of war. What Possible Now offers them is a global community and the opportunity to connect across contexts and sectors; to realize that their struggle is part of a much wider struggle for dignity and justice.

I am constantly reminded of Arundhati Roy's quote: “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” We no longer wait for that quiet day. Her voice can already be heard.