“I founded Graines de Paix with a deep conviction: education is the key to preventing violence before it takes root.”
Delia Mamon, Founder
The story of
Graines de Paix
A conviction born of an observation.
A project that became a foundation.
An educational mission that today has international reach.
The origins of a conviction
Graines de Paix was founded in Geneva in 2005, inspired by Delia Mamon’s vision of replacing violent reflexes with peaceful skills.
Since childhood, Delia has been deeply concerned with issues of peace. In 2003, several international events rekindled this commitment and raised a series of essential questions:
- Why, in the 21ᵉ century, when humanity has never been so educated, is violence still a norm for resolving conflicts?
- Why invest so much in remedial education, and so little in preventive education, capable of defusing violence before it breaks out?
These reflections lead to an obvious conclusion: education must be rethought in terms of prevention, not repair.
Peace is built through every glance, every word and every gesture shared with a child.
From idea to action
Conviction becomes project
From the outset, Graines de Paix has had a clear objective: to develop educational approaches that strengthen children’s life skills and prevent violence from an early age.
This approach is developed in close collaboration with teachers, educational experts and institutions. Together, they design innovative pedagogical tools focused on valorization, inclusion and emotional regulation.
The initial idea became a structured methodology, tested in classrooms from 2009 onwards, adapted to local contexts and recognized by education authorities.
From conviction to project
Over the past 20 years, Graines de Paix has achieved decisive institutional milestones: from its creation in 2005 to its international recognition, each milestone testifies to an educational vision that has become a benchmark.
The Foundation is celebrating two decades of educational impact and international influence, with the determination to remain a benchmark in the transformation of education.
The AdoGoZen program expands the educational approach beyond the school setting to include social and cultural centers, diversifying the venues for peace education accessible to all.
Graines de Paix has been awarded one of the world’s most prestigious educational prizes for the quality and impact of its training programs in Benin, confirming the international scope of its model.
Graines de Paix becomes a charitable foundation. This new status guarantees its continuity and development in Switzerland and abroad, marking a major institutional step forward.
This international award recognizes Graines de Paix’s innovative approach to quality education, violence prevention and peace promotion from an early age.
Signature of a national agreement with the Beninese authorities, anchoring Graines de Paix in the Beninese education system and in West Africa.
Publication of the Grandir en Paix educational collection, validated by the canton of Vaud and then recognized throughout French-speaking Switzerland, offering concrete tools for teachers.
Graines de Paix has been recognized by Ashoka for its innovative entrepreneurial approach and its potential for major social impact in the world of education.
Historic signature with the Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of Education for first national deployment. In the same year, ECOSOC consultative status with the UN.
Finalization of the project “Manuel de compétences pour dépasser la violence et les discriminations”, which will lead to the educational collection “Grandir en paix”.
Distribution of a booklet of cooperative activities with Service Civil International, initiating the development of Graines de Paix teaching resources.
A year after its creation, the association was granted tax-exempt status and launched its first website, marking its institutional legitimacy.
Founded in Geneva by Delia Mamon, Graines de Paix was born of a strong conviction: education must prevent violence and strengthen lasting peace from childhood onwards.
A Foundation in the service of educational peace
Graines de Paix is pursuing its development in Switzerland and West Africa, in close collaboration with ministries of education and local players. Its mission: to make school a lever for peace, by reinforcing life skills and positive relationships from childhood onwards.
Led by a committed team, the Foundation designs innovative teaching resources, trains teachers and supports the evolution of educational policies to transform school systems in the long term.
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Let’s continue
the story of Graines de Paix.