Recognition of Peace of Art at the Arab-German Dialogue Award 2019

Berlin, Germany | 9 October 2019

In October 2019, Peace of Art International received significant international recognition when the organization’s flagship initiative, “Peace of Art,” was selected among the Top Ten Humanitarian Initiatives in the Arab and European regions during the prestigious Arab-German Dialogue Award held in Berlin, Germany.

The award ceremony brought together leading civil society organizations, innovators, researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners from Europe and the Arab world to showcase initiatives that contribute to dialogue, social development, intercultural understanding, and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges. The recognition highlighted projects that have demonstrated measurable social impact while fostering cooperation between communities across cultural and geographical boundaries.

Representing Peace of Art International, founder and chairman Mr. Mahdi Yahya delivered a comprehensive presentation introducing the organization’s journey, mission, achievements, and long-term vision for peacebuilding through art, education, and community engagement.

Mahdi Yahya Showcasing Peace of Art Among the Top Arab-German Humanitarian Initiatives

During his presentation, Yahya outlined the circumstances that led to the establishment of Peace of Art International in Lebanon and explained how the organization developed from a grassroots initiative into an internationally recognized platform for peacebuilding and youth empowerment. He emphasized the importance of providing young people with positive alternatives to violence, discrimination, extremism, and sectarian division.

A central theme of the presentation focused on the organization’s belief that art can serve as a powerful instrument for social transformation. Through music, theatre, visual arts, dialogue initiatives, and educational programs, Peace of Art has worked to create safe spaces where young people can express themselves, engage in constructive discussions, and develop leadership skills that contribute to stronger and more resilient communities.

The audience was introduced to a variety of initiatives implemented by Peace of Art International, including youth leadership programs, intercultural dialogue activities, advocacy campaigns, educational workshops, and community-based projects aimed at promoting coexistence and social cohesion. These initiatives demonstrated how creative approaches can strengthen civic engagement and encourage active participation in addressing local and regional challenges.

Yahya also highlighted the organization’s commitment to human rights, sustainable development, and community resilience. He explained that Peace of Art’s approach goes beyond cultural activities by integrating capacity building, advocacy, civic participation, and social innovation into its programs. This multidimensional strategy has enabled the organization to reach thousands of young people and community members while fostering a culture of dialogue and nonviolence.

Being recognized among the top humanitarian initiatives in the Arab and European worlds represented an important milestone in the development of Peace of Art International. The nomination acknowledged years of dedication to building bridges between communities and empowering young people to become active contributors to peace and sustainable development.

The recognition also provided an opportunity to strengthen international partnerships and increase awareness of the role that arts and culture can play in conflict prevention and social transformation. By presenting the Peace of Art model to an international audience, Mr. Mahdi Yahya contributed to broader discussions on innovative approaches to peacebuilding and youth engagement.

The Arab-German Dialogue Award nomination further reinforced Peace of Art International’s growing reputation as a leading civil society organization working at the intersection of peacebuilding, education, culture, and community development. It demonstrated that locally driven initiatives can achieve international recognition when they successfully address social challenges through creativity, inclusion, and meaningful participation.

For Mahdi Yahya and Peace of Art International, the event served as both recognition of past achievements and motivation for future work. It reaffirmed the organization’s conviction that sustainable peace is built through dialogue, education, cultural exchange, and the empowerment of communities to become agents of positive change.