Solutions To Violence | Lena Slachmuijdler | Search for Common Ground | April 2, 2023

Lena Slachmuijdler a Senior Vice President at Search for Common Ground. Search for Comon Ground is an international organization that boast of an estimated 1000 employees; founded in 1982 (at the height of the cold war.
Lena brings experience working for peace and social change as an engaged, creative and dynamic peace builder with 30 years of experience in fragile and conflict-affected states in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Before joining the Common Ground organization Washington, DC headquarters, she lived and worked in Africa for 21 years as a journalist, editor, human rights defender during the transition to democracy. director, producer, performing artist, cultural facilitator, trainer, and project manager. She joined Search for Common Ground in Burundi in 2001, heading the ‘Studio Ijambo’ radio production studio, while supporting regional media efforts. In 2005, she was appointed Country Director in the Democratic Republic of Congo, growing it to become Search’s largest program, with seven offices around the country working on repatriation, sexual violence, governance, elections, security sector reform, and regional cohesion. While working In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lena pioneered tools such as participatory theatre, a reality TV show, and innovative approaches to army and police reform. She has trained journalists, artists and peace builders on all continents, has published numerous articles, and wrote and produced a documentary film about Burundi's 'Heroes.' She now oversees all of Search’s Regional Directors and supports our programs across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Lena is fluent in English, French, and Zulu and has working knowledge of Swahili, Lingala, and Kirundi.