Humanitarian

Amandine Roche is a women’s empowerment expert with more than 20 years of experience with the United Nations and European Union in conflict contexts such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, Congo, and Libya. Her professional experience focuses on human rights, democratization, education, freedom of expression, and gender/youth empowerment.

Amandine has participated in 20 peace and democratic processes around the world. Among her many roles, she has served as head of the UN Civic Education Program in Afghanistan, UN Coordinator of the Spotlight Initiative (which is the world's largest program to end violence against women) in Papua New Guinea, director of UN Women and Youth empowerment program in Haiti, and was the UN responsible of Women leadership program in Central Africa Republic. She worked with United Nations Department of Peacekeeping, European Commission, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, UN WOMEN, UNF, USAID, and The Carter Center.

Amandine works on promoting women’s participation and leadership in peacebuilding processes, assisting women to become agents of peace in Asia (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, East Timor, India, Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal, Burma), Pacific (Papua New Guinea, Australia), Africa (Togo, Rwanda, Kenya, Angola, DRC, RCA), Europe (Armenia), Middle East (Tunisia, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan), and South America (Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Jamaica, Haiti).

She holds an MD in International Relations and LM in Political Science (France), a MA in Human Rights and International Law (Spain) and has taken courses in Media and International Development (Italy), Peace Education (Costa Rica), Gender Mainstreaming (USA) and Leadership (USA).

The European Commission and United Nations have recognized her as an authority in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. She is also the founder of two non-profit organisations: Amanuddin Foundation in Afghanistan and the Inner Peace Corps in the Middle East.

UNHCR Mafraq Camps, Syrian border Jordan

Amandine founded the Amanuddin Foundation in Kabul in 2011, which aims to develop a culture of peace and promote wellness through yoga and meditation to prisoners, women, soldiers, and kids. The Foundation runs the Torch of Light School, which enrols 350 male and female students.

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Inner Peace Keeping Program

Amandine created the Inner Peace Keeping program in 2016 in the Middle East for humanitarians suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, burnout, depression and anxiety, and she gave a talk at TEDx Berkeley explaining the importance of inner peacekeeping for peacekeepers.

Following the Inner Peace Keeping program, Amandine created the Inner Peace Corps in 2018, which seeks to heal the invisible wounds of trauma, restore human dignity, and develop joy through creativity – all of which she taught to refugees in the Zaatari and Mafraq camps in Jordan.

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