Duhok, Kurdistan Region - On November 13, 2025, the Center for Peace and Human Security (CPHS) in collaboration with the College of Arts & Sciences’ International Studies Department hosted a workshop titled “Building a Career in Peacebuilding and Development,” presented by Mr. Sarhang Hamasaeed, a prominent peacebuilding practitioner with extensive experience at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Throughout the session, Mr. Hamasaeed shared insights from his years of work in conflict-affected areas and highlighted the growing need for skilled young professionals in peacebuilding. Encouraging students to recognize their role in shaping the future, he stated, “Never feel that you do not have power. You have power, a lot of power, should you choose to use it.” He also emphasized how tools as simple as a smartphone can influence communities and narratives, noting, “With this, you have incredible power as an individual.”
The workshop was highly interactive, with students participating in practical exercises designed based on real-life conflicts and dialogues in Iraq and elsewhere to help them identify skills, map pathways into the field, and reflect on the personal values that guide meaningful careers, during a period marked by the rise of AI and shrinking funds for peacebuilding. Students engaged in group discussions, scenario-based activities, and Q&A exchanges that explore real-world challenges in peacebuilding and development.
The event drew an active audience of students from the International Studies Department, many of whom described the session as motivating and clarifying for their future career goals. This workshop forms part of CPHS’s ongoing mission to equip AUK students with knowledge and opportunities in conflict transformation and community resilience.
