In The Hague Zuid-West, creativity and community go hand-in-hand. Since 2021, MasterPeace has been working in the neighbourhoods of Bouwlust, Vrederust, Moerwijk, and Morgenstond—places with enormous potential but also socio-economic challenges. It follows the global goals of MasterPeace, creating peace together by inspiring young people to use their talent and energy for peacebuilding.
MasterPeace believes that every person has talent, and that art can be a powerful vehicle for social connection, self-expression, and change. Together with the Municipality of The Hague, housing association Staedion, Wijkz, StreetSport, Zuid-West College, local police officers, active parents, The Hague Street Art, and creative makers, the organisation has built a vibrant network where young people are seen and more importantly, heard.
Empowering youth through art and community action in The Hague
Their first activities kicked off in July 2021, and the numbers speak for themselves: more than 750 young people and over 1,000 residents took part. The result was more than colourful murals—this was about storytelling, agency, and being included in conversations about the future of the city. Young participants shared their hopes, frustrations, and dreams with local policymakers and helped design the first outlines for a community centre that reflects their needs.
“At MasterPeace, we believe that every young person has the potential to be a changemaker. In The Hague Zuid-West, we see how art, when combined with trust and co-creation, becomes a tool for dialogue, connection, and pride. By working together with local partners and the community, we’re not just painting walls—we’re shaping a new narrative of inclusion, resilience, and peace, created by and for young people.”
MasterPeace: Creating Peace. Together.
At its heart, MasterPeace is a global movement that supports ‘changemakers’ that work on a ‘sustainable future’ and ‘creating peace together’. Originating from the conviction that peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of connection, MasterPeace engages thousands of young changemakers in over 40 countries—from Colombia to Kenya, from Nepal to the Netherlands. Implementing over 400 projects per year focused on local impact and sharing global best practices.
The philosophy is simple but powerful: real change comes from the bottom up. By mobilising local talents through music, art, dialogue, and sports, MasterPeace helps communities take ownership of their futures. Rather than waiting for top-down solutions, they activate people to co-create the kind of neighbourhoods and societies they want to live in.
Each local project—from a street art initiative in The Hague to peace-building festivals in Africa or Asia—contributes to a wider global mosaic of social innovation. Together, these efforts form a peaceful counter-current, building bridges between communities, generations, and cultures.
'Zuid-West Story'
The neighbourhoods of The Hague’s Zuid-West are home to approximately 70,000 residents. As in other urban areas, socio-economic challenges such as long-term unemployment, poverty, health issues, and lack of opportunities for young people in socially vulnerable environments are present.
The municipality, the national government, and housing corporations are therefore investing in the necessary improvements for Zuid-West in the upcoming years. As part of the program “Zuid-West Story: Zuid-West Tells Its Story,” MasterPeace is working with young people to create four murals that tell their stories and contribute to social cohesion in the neighbourhood. With support from Staedion, they were able to reach even more youth by organising accessible activities such as additional murals, creative workshops, and training 30 students from Zuid-West College.
Through MasterPeace activities, young people gradually develop into active citizens and increasingly participate. In time, together with other active partners in the neighbourhood, they bring positive change.
MasterPeace Pakistan Empowers Underprivileged Students
In this digital age increasingly driven by technology, digital literacy is not just a luxury but an absolute necessity. However, for many underprivileged children in Pakistan, access to computers and digital education remains a distant dream. MasterPeace Pakistan is committed and working towards changing that narrative.
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