Biography Narrative

Victoria Pelaez has been a social researcher on gender, migration, and social inclusion for more than 10 years. She teaches social research at Rafael Landívar University (a Jesuit university) in Guatemala. A Roman Catholic, her academic interests focus on how excluded populations can be involved in development processes with regard to human beings and ethical values. Since 2001, she has coordinated the Guatemalan Interreligious Development Dialogue and is dedicated to sharing common values, perspectives, and visions with Christian, Jewish and Mayan individuals. Victoria hopes to find ways to empower marginalized groups to become more involved in their own social and economic growth and the full realization of a higher quality of life. Within this framework, she believes that religions have an important role to play in sharing experiences, values and guidance. Every day, she asks herself one simple question: Who needs me more?

Interreligious Activities and Initiatives

Peace Builders

The project aims to prevent conflicts in local environments, considering that young people can influence in their social and familiar places. According to the main objective, the focus is training intercultural and interreligious dialogue with teenagers who are concluding their secondary studies. The project includes three components: a seminar, teaching materials and systematization.