Mariia Dzholos

My interest in peacebuilding and conflict resolution started back in 2014 when my family and I fled our home and became Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as the war sparked in Donetsk, Ukraine. Back then, I started to wonder about the twists and turns of large-scale armed conflicts. The atrocities and devastations of war in Ukraine encouraged me to apply to United World Colleges (UWC) - a global network of schools with the shared mission of “making education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.” Studying with peers from over 100 different countries there, I realized how pervasive the issue of peace&conflict is because, regardless of citizenship, virtually everyone witnessed a structural conflict or a large-scale war. 

Willingness to understand what geopolitical and socio-economic factors create a favorable breeding ground for wars and armed and structural conflicts induced me to pursue a degree in International Politics and Economics. Throughout my undergraduate education, I plan to take classes and engage in research and community projects that focus on examining and addressing small- and large-scale conflicts and peacebuilding worldwide. Structural conflicts are the core of both; therefore, I believe that participation in the Summer Peacebuilding Program will give me a solid understanding of peacebuilding and conflict resolution mechanisms, allowing me to produce high-quality research and practical projects.