On October 8th, 2011, as a part of our Living Peace Projects service initiative, youth between the ages of 11 - 24 gathered together to learn about women in war. Special guest Maja Muric, a professional tennis player who spent her youth as a Croatian teen during the war, shared her poignant story of growing up with one Croatian parent and one Bosnian parent in a conflict zone where heritage became vital to survival.  UC Irvine's Center for Unconventional Security Affairs (CUSA) presented a 3 part module:  a window into what life is like for women in refugee camps around the world by CUSA Director Richard Matthew, a dance performance by CUSA Artist-in-Residence Pamela Donohoo, and a hopeful conversation about recent developments serving women in war zones with Chapman University's Crystal Murphy.  PBS SoCal also hosted 3 media-based activities that explored the experience of women living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo-- equipping youth to 'share their own story' via social media.  

A few days later, the youth who participated in Living Peace Projects were invited to attend a speaking event with Abigail Disney, Geena Davis, Professor Roxanne Varzi and Center for Living Peace Founder, Kelly Thornton Smith.