24 September, 2026
“Who makes peace? You’re sitting in the answer.”
On the International Day of Peace, we welcomed Ilya “Admiral” Shcharbitski, a Belarusian community organiser based in The Hague, for a special Fireside Peace Chat as part of Hope Box – Piece for World Peace.
Ilya opened the conversation by giving an overview of Belarus’ history and the political tensions that have shaped the country in recent decades. He reflected on the mass protests of 2020 and the continued pressure faced by civil society, activists and political prisoners, as well as the impact this has on their families and communities.
These experiences are closely connected to Ilya’s own journey into activism. He spoke about how his work has evolved over the years, from supporting political prisoners to a broader focus on defending democratic space and building connections between people working for peace and justice.
A key part of the conversation was the role of art in creating space for solidarity. Ilya spoke about projects bringing together artists from Belarus, Ukraine and the Netherlands to raise awareness of political prisoners and give visibility to people whose voices have been silenced. For him, artistic action can offer another way to connect people, tell stories and keep attention on those who are often unable to speak for themselves.
He also reflected on some of the realities of sustaining this work: organising from exile, staying connected to communities in Belarus, navigating safety concerns and avoiding burnout. These challenges, he emphasised, make collaboration and collective support especially important.
But towards the end of the evening, the conversation moved from Belarus to the people sitting in the room.
Ilya asked:
“Have you been to a protest in the past year?
Have you attended a community event?
Have you organised a tea or simply brought your friends together?”
Almost everyone raised their hand.
“If you raised your hand for anything tonight, the protest, the community event, even just tea with friends, raise it again. Look around. Everyone here already knows how to bring people together. The question tonight is: Who makes peace? And you’re sitting in the answer.”
The evening offered a reminder that peacebuilding is not only something that happens through institutions, diplomacy or formal peace processes. It begins with communities coming together, artists creating space for solidarity, people supporting one another, and individuals choosing to take part.
So, who makes peace? Perhaps the better question is: what can each of us do to contribute?
“Peace isn’t built by one person, and freedom isn’t enjoyed alone. We make it, and we share it, together. So my ask is simple: help each other a little more, whenever you can.”
Continue the conversation
For those who would like to learn more about Belarusian community initiatives in the Netherlands, MARA – Belarusians in the Netherlands is organising Voices Beyond the Walls, a benefit concert combining music and poetry in support of political prisoners in Belarus, on 15 November in The Hague. Find out more and join the event.
At the latest #DemocracyDrinks The Hague, Ales Bialatski, Nobel Peace Prize laureate & Belarusian democracy and human rights defender, visited the The Hague Humanity Hub and shared an important story with us: the reality and consequences of defending and promoting Human Rights in Belarus.
At our latest Fireside Peace Chat, we welcomed Shelter City guest Wangechi Grace Kahuria, Executive Director of IMLU, for a conversation on youth movements in Kenya and the importance of defending civic space.
