AMERICAS

We are privileged to have Sarah Syed as our ambassador in the United States. She is a Houston native, the daughter of immigrants, and grand-daughter of refugees. She is an Ivy League graduate student by day, and a grassroots community organizer by night. With a background in research and systems engineering, she focuses on capacity building within special populations as a Project Manager in her current role.

Presently, she is working in mediation consulting towards a career in medical jurisprudence and would like to work as a medical provider in due time. She hopes to continue community organizing to redress systemic health disparities, particularly within immigrant and refugee populations. She aims to fix broken social systems, bringing meaningful changes to peoples’ lives, and empowering vulnerable or oppressed populations. This is evident in her community service as an international humanitarian aid worker, assisting with emergency relief efforts facilitating health and human services to advance access to quality healthcare. 

Syed currently serves on the board for the New Leaders Council Houston Chapter, Helping a Ready Preemie, and Hope Over Hurt. She is a translator for Language Line Solutions and a fellow of the Muslim Public Affairs Council Government Summit advocating for peaceful interfaith dialogue as it relates to public deliberation.

We trust that Ms. Syed continues enhancing harmony and peace in the United States. We urge Americans to volunteer helping her and financially supporting her humanitarian and peace-making initiatives.

Sarah Syed

Ambassador: Peace Worldwide Organization

Education: Harvard University
Career: Community Leader
Sarah.Syed@peaceworldwide.org

Congratulations to our first American Chapter

Peace Worldwide Houston Chapter

Houston, Texas, USA

Costa Rica

Costa Rica
Country in Central America (Shown in Green)

    Costa Rica has not had a standing army since 1945. It is a country in Central America in a region infamous for discrimination against indigenous people and blacks, harassment of oppositions, child labor, violence, drug cartel, and destination and transit points for trafficking in women and children. Also, the country has notoriety for sex tourism.            Nevertheless, Costa Rica is a constitutional democracy with a population of about 4.5 million. It has accomplished great steps in democracy. An example is that over 38% of the Legislators are women comparing to 17% in the United States. In February 2011, Laura Chinchilla Miranda was elected the country's first female president.            In the recent years, the country has become a theater of the drug cartel. Unlike other countries that deal with such problems by resorting to their armed forces, Costa Rica has been determined to remain free of a standing army despite having serious problem with the cartel. In response to such pressure, President Chinchilla said: “… the absence of an army has been a guarantee of security in the country."            The courage to be free of military has handsomely paid off. Costa Rica has become the envy of the world. The Happy Planet Index global ranking for well-being and environmental impact shows Costa Rica is top in the world. Costa Ricans are reportedly among the happiest in the world. They have one of the highest levels of life expectancy in the Western World. They enjoy better living standards than many people in the other countries in Americas.            Costa Ricans are a good example for the rest of us to follow. We can realize that standing military is not a solution to conflicts but a part of the problem. The money wasted on military can best be spent to enhance our wellbeing. To have a world free of military, each of us must be committed to peaceful coexistence through dialogue, and not confrontation. President Chinchilla said: “Dialogue has to become a permanent instrument for the exercise of power.” May peace be with you! *ALL COMMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO EDITORIAL REVIEW