Queer Peace International

About QPI

Queer Peace International is a Canadian Non-Governmental Organization that stands to empower grassroots lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations in developing countries to educate their communities on LGBT issues and concerns, as well as learn the necessary skills to advocate for their rights.

 

Our Mission Statement

Queer Peace International is committed to promoting peace, diversity and equality of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified) population through facilitating research, training, and outreach projects in developing countries. We specifically address in our work the education, social and health needs of LGBT individuals in international development programmes, as well as re-construction and humanitarian programming and policy.

 

Our Vision

Queer Peace International envisions equal and fair access and treatment of all minorities, focusing predominantly, but not exclusively, on lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and trans-identified persons in the education, health and social sectors of society. As international investment in each of these sectors continues to outreach and define itself, Queer citizens deserve to access resources that encourage human development, and which are currently available to other marginalized groups.

 

Our Strategy

Queer Peace International brings together Queer voices from multiple spectrums of the globe to help build sustainable change, conciliation, and peace. Its members come from an array of communities, cultures and identities. We work in solidarity with all minorities and women to further guarantee inclusiveness in social change. Everyone can join and access Queer Peace International and be a part of the relevance it possesses.

For examples on how we work on our mission statement, please visit the news section of the website.

 

Board Biographies

Robert Mizzi is currently working towards his Ph.D. at York University, Toronto, with the Faculty of Education. One aspect of his research focuses on how foreign LGBT adult educators are trained on sexual identity issues prior to commencing their overseas missions, and how they negotiate their sexual identity while in a different sociocultural environment. Mizzi initiated QPI in October 2004 as a network for people who are looking for educational opportunities that relate to sexual/gender identity issues. As the great need for education/training/support in developing countries became apparent, QPI has expanded into a programming role. He has worked in Canada, Japan, Malta, United Kingdom, Kosovo, Bosnia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

Daniel Peiser works as a consultant in not-for-profit management as well as organizational and fund development. With a career focus on the not-for-profit sector and civil society, he has more than 20 years of professional revenue development and 15 years of senior management experience. He has worked for international development, social service, health care, arts, environment, conservation, youth, and higher education organizations across Canada and the United States. His international work includes organizational development in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Thailand, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Vanuatu.

Fiona Sillars is currently working as a CUSO cooperant in Maputo, Mozambique with the Burnet Institute, an Australian NGO working in international health. Working in Programme Management with Burnet, Sillars supports the capacity building initiatives of Burnet's local partners, all of whom work in the HIV & AIDS arena. With a BA in International Development and Political Science, and as an MPH candidate at the University of Waterloo, Sillars has a particular interest in sexual health and reproductive rights and youth and she has gained extensive facilitation experience with youth, including a recent QPI mission to Swaziland.

Dmytro Hys is based in Ottawa where he is currently looking to work in the field of policy in multi-culturalism and human rights. He joined QPI three years ago working in project support for the organization, documentation and fundraising, and continues working on project development for QPI. Hys has extensive work experience with Amnesty International as part of the LGBT section as well as for Refugee Network. Originally from the Ukraine, where he received his first degree in languages and translation, he completed his studies at the University of Toronto where he graduated with a Masters in political theory. Currently, he works in movie production, as a translator and subtitle editor.

Martin Krajcik is a trainer in non-formal education specialized in community development projects, management of organizations, project and volunteer management, and development of training courses and modules on local, national and international levels. He is particularly involved in projects oriented on/for/by youth, which have included working as a trainer and fundraiser for an aboriginal youth gathering/conference in Moosonee, a trainer at a long-term training course on amateur art education as a tool for youth work in Germany, and is a founder of LGBT youth/student organization in Slovakia.

Melissa Autumn White is a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) in Women's Studies and a researcher at the Centre for International and Security Studies, York University, Toronto. Her current research explores the affective dimensions of transnational queer migrations, citizenships, and counter-publics, with a particular interest in queer no-borders/migrants' rights organizing. White has worked as an intern with Canadian International Development Agency on health and labour related projects in Goa, India.