Christelle Barakat

I was born in Lebanon and grew up in the coastal city of Byblos. In Fall 2019, I graduated from the Lebanese American University (LAU)’s honors program with a High Distinction B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs and 3 minors in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Gender Studies, and Legal Studies. Currently, I am in Greensboro pursuing a M.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies with a concentration on International Peace Development at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) as a Fulbright Foreign Student, simultaneously serving as UNCG’s Global Leadership Program Coordinator. I enjoy being heavily involved in activities, extracurriculars, and volunteering opportunities on and off campus. This summer, I am excited to be interning within The Carter Center’s Conflict Resolution Program and with Peace Boat U.S. I am likewise thrilled to partake in the Summer Peacebuilding Program (SPP), particularly as this year’s focus is on race, COVID-19, and economic crises. Sadly, my home country is nowadays suffering from a severe economic crisis compounded by the harshness of the pandemic. Through SPP, I hope that I can develop practical approaches to overcome these challenges and to address structural violence and structural racism both in the U.S. and in Lebanon.