About Us

For communities around the world, climate change continues to intensify, exacerbating resource conflicts, socio-economic instabilities, and displacing countless individuals. Here at PeaceLab Studio, we believe that through collaborative learning, shared knowledge, and innovative thinking, we can equip the next generation of leaders capable of addressing these challenges head-on.

Our Vision

  • Education & Collaboration: We’re creating a groundbreaking platform to enable students across borders to work together, fostering community climate resilient innovations that drive peace and sustainable growth.
  • An ethos of co-creation: With our inclusive co-creation workshops held Kenya, we aim to connect educators, crafting a curriculum that bridges divides and champions joint action. We prioritize stakeholder involvement right from the design phase, ensuring that the solutions we create are tailored for real-world needs.
  • Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Our Peace Lab Studio course will see students from in the US and Northern Kenya unite in their quest for solutions at the crux of climate resilience and peace.
  • Entrepreneurial Mindset: Alongside this, our venture creation competition offers students from the US and Kenya an invaluable chance to innovate together, working to create the future of sustainable peace solutions.

Our Leadership Team

Prof. Ahmed Osman Warfa, PhD: Vice Chancellor of Garissa University with expertise Education (Curriculum Development) and International Studies.

Prof. Ahmed Mohamed: Director of the Institute of Peace and Security Studies at Garissa University, a seasoned environmentalist, researcher, and expert in peace education

Fat-ha Aden Abdirahman: A Deputy Director at the Institute of Peace & Security Studies, Garissa University, with expertise in Sociology, Peace and Conflict, and Community Development, emphasizing sustainable human development, family life, and community improvement through research.

Dr. Jonathan Henriques: A Lecturer at Garissa University, and peace research, he is an expert in Law, Political Science, and African Studies, focusing on South Sudan’s state and peace-building, with extensive experience in constitution drafting, governance, and peace mediation.

Dr. Avneet Hira: An Assistant Professor of Engineering at Boston College, researching how engineering and technology can improve lives, with a focus on technology affordances, humanistic design, and engineering education inspired by Making and tinkering practices.

Dr. Justin Henriques: An Associate Professor of Engineering at Boston College with experience in sustainable development, social entrepreneurship, and climate change adaptation.

Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Bashir Yussuf Haji: A retired Major General with a distinguished military career, now a Lecturer at Tangaza University College’s Institute for Interreligious Dialogue and Islamic Studies, with expertise in disaster mapping, crisis management, and regional security.

Outcomes and Goals

We aim to reframe international collaboration, emphasizing equitable and genuine partnerships. We believe in empowering students to lead change, fostering innovative ventures that positively impact global communities. This venture isn’t just a course, but a movement towards a sustainable and peaceful future.

Join Us

Be a part of this revolution. Together, let’s innovate for peace, resilience, and a brighter future.

Recent Activity

Recent Publications, Presentations, & Press

Justin Henriques, Avneet Hira, Ahmed Mohammad, and Fat-ha Aden Abdirahman, Collaborative Model for Climate Resilience and Peace in Northern Kenya, Community-Based Global Learning Collaborative 2024 Summit, Collaboration for a Better World: Global Learning, Hope, and Justice, November 8-10, 2024, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA

Justin Henriques. “Bridging Venture Creation, Peace, and Sustainable Development through Local Partner
Collaborations,” VentureWell OPEN conference March 18-20, 2024, San Diego, CA

Justin Henriques, Jonathan Henriques, Avneet Hira, Ahmed Mohammad, and Fat-ha Aden Abdirahman,
“PeaceLab Studio: Bridging Education and Innovation for Climate Resilience and Peacebuilding in Northern
Kenya” Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), 6-9 March 2024
Hiroshima University, Japan

J. Henriques, A. Mohamed, F. Abdirahman, A. Warfa, J. Henriques “Creating Collaborative Innovation Projects between Students from Kenya and the U.S at the Intersection of Climate and Peace,” African American, and Diaspora (AAAD) (February 14 -17, 2023)

VentureWell, Peace Lab Studio Course Interview, Dr. Justin Henriques of James Madison University discusses Peace Lab Studio, a course supported by a VentureWell faculty grant that serves as a launchpad for student teams to develop climate solutions for the developing world. (2022)

Project Sponsors

VentureWell Course & Program (C&P) Grants

The Schiller Institute at Boston College