Leymah Gbowee, a 39 year old social worker, won a noble peace prize for her amazing work of fighting for peace in her home country Liberia.  

Leymah Gbowee  grew up in Africa. While growing up, she was caught up in a savage civil war that destroyed life as she knew it. As war continued to ravage Liberia, Gbowee’s bitterness turned to rage-fueled action as she realized women are the silent sufferers in prolonged conflicts. Gbowee was instrumental in galvanizing women across Liberia in 2003 to force a peace in the region after 14 years of war.

She began organizing Christian and Muslim women to demonstrate together, founding the Liberian Mass Action for Peace, launching protests and even a sex strike. Gbowee’s memoir, Mighty Be Our Powers, chronicles the unthinkable violence she’s faced throughout her life, and the peace she has helped to broker by empowering her countrywomen and others around the world. 

She founded a non-profitable group called Women of Liberian Mass Action For Peace.  Their purpose is to confront warlords and then-President Charles Taylor. Members of this group wear white T-shirts symbolizing a non violent approach. 

“I believe, I know, that if you have unshakable faith in yourself, in your sisters and in the possibility of change, you can do almost anything. The work is hard. The immensity of what needs to be done is discouraging. But you look at communities that are struggling on a daily basis.
They keep on—and in the eyes of the people there, you are a symbol of hope. And so you, too, must keep on. You are not at liberty to give up. Don’t stop, echoes the older Liberian lady’s voice.
Don’t ever stop. My answer to her: I never will” says  Leymah Gbowee.