The Case for Peacebuilding

The United Nations celebrates International Day of Peace each year on September 21. It’s a day we acknowledge those who’ve labored to end conflict and promote peace. It’s also intended to be a time of political and personal ceasefire. On this day, we should put aside our differences and work to strengthen the promise of peace around the world.

As a CEO, I’ve thought a lot about what role corporations can play in building a more peaceful world. Companies can help expand economic security and contribute to social development in the communities where they operate. From small to large, businesses touch individuals, families and neighborhoods every day through the jobs, benefits and investments we provide. Peace is not achievable when a community or an individual lacks opportunity.

Aside from the positive impact we can make in the communities and countries where we do business, the hospitality industry itself has a unique role to promote peace; we do this by encouraging people to see the world. Travel, cultural exchange and exposure to the way others live can act as a catalyst for peace. As more people experience different cultures and regions of the world, their appreciation and understanding of other people will grow. Better relationships between citizens can lead to stronger bonds, increased empathy, economic collaboration and social cohesion -- which all further a more peaceful world.

I learned this lesson first hand from my mother and father. They were Lutheran missionaries who spent many years living in Japan, soaking in the culture and the language. I spent my early childhood there as well, before moving to the Midwest.

The summer before my senior year at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, my dad told me that I should get out of my comfort zone and explore the world. “The farther away you get from what is familiar to you, the more you will learn,” he told me. I took his advice. I ended up in Lebanon in the middle of a civil war. There was gunfire. But there were also welcoming and resilient people making the best out of a tough situation.

I’ve been exploring the world ever since. Without a doubt, I think all of us can benefit from having an insatiable, lifelong love of learning, listening, curiosity and connection.

As a travel company, we continue to advocate for more people to see the world, and through Serve 360, our social impact and sustainability platform, we have created a goal to invest in partnerships which promote peace. This month, I’m pleased to announce that Marriott International has partnered with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), a national nonpartisan independent institute founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical and essential. Our partnership will focus on expanding the Generation Change Fellows Program, a youth-led and youth-focused peacebuilding program in conflict-affected countries.

The partnership with USIP will help launch the Youth Peacebuilding Fund which will support Generation Change Fellows who are demonstrated bridge-builders and are dedicated to promoting peace in their communities. In addition to financial assistance through the fund, they will also receive mentorship and coaching to assist in the design, development and implementation of peacebuilding projects in their communities.

I am delighted to support this important effort and look forward to sharing the stories of these incredible Generation Change Fellows.

Peace is built by all of us. On this day, I challenge you to think about what you can do to contribute to a more peaceful world.