Syrian teen, Bana Alabed, Wins International Children's Peace Prize 2025

Bana Alabed, a 15-year-old Syrian changemaker and survivor of the 2016 Aleppo siege, has been awarded the 2025 International Children’s Peace Prize, the world’s most important youth award. During a landmark ceremony in Stockholm’s historic City Hall, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist, Tawakkol Karman from Yemen, presented the International Children’s Peace Prize, which recognizes Bana’s transformational work reuniting displaced children with their families, rebuilding schools, and providing hope through education and advocacy.

 Now residing in Turkey, Bana has become a powerful voice for children in warzones, advocating for peace, education, and justice. Growing up during the Syrian Civil War, Bana experienced the devastating 2016 siege of Aleppo, where she endured bombings, deprivation, and insecurity. Losing loved ones, including her best friend Yasmine, cemented her resolve to fight for children’s rights and create a future where no child endures such suffering. Bana began her activism by documenting the suffering of children during the war, using diaries, blogs, and social media to highlight life under siege.

Her “Stand with Aleppo” campaign, which demanded the lifting of the siege affecting over 360,000 civilians, earned global recognition and praise from leaders, including President Emmanuel Macron of France, earning her the nickname “Icon of Aleppo.” Her work called attention to the deprivation of education, fear, and displacement faced by millions of children, pressuring the global community to advocate for ceasefires and humanitarian aid.

Today, Bana’s efforts go beyond advocacy. She is dedicated to reuniting the 5,000 missing children of Syria with their families, reopening schools destroyed by conflict, and providing rehousing to displaced youth so they can return to education and stability. Through her initiatives, she not only amplifies the voices of war-affected children but also implements programs aimed at rebuilding lives and restoring hope.

In addition to her activism, Bana is an accomplished author and speaker. Her books, “Dear World ” and “My Name is Bana,” translated into 15 languages, provide powerful firsthand accounts of war and resilience. She has written for global publications, conducted workshops, and participated in films like Voices from Syria to highlight the struggles of displaced children. Through visits to refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan, she raises awareness and offers support to war-affected families.

Bana also runs educational programs for refugee children, providing language skills and mental health support. Moving forward, she plans to expand her efforts with podcasts, documentaries, and workshops to train young activists, while building networks with global advocates. Despite immense challenges, Bana remains steadfast in amplifying the voices of war-affected children, urging the world to offer them protection, justice, and hope for a better.

Of the nomination, Bana commented: “Peace is not a luxury. The world must listen to us. Our childhood has been stolen due to wars and conflicts. We want peace, and to those children who are suffering in the wars, you are not alone.”

By winning the International Children’s Peace Prize, Bana received the Nkosi Statuette, the Desmond Tutu Study and Care Grant, and an amount of € 75.000. € 50.000 will go to the winner’s project, and € 25.000 will be invested by KidsRights in the projects of other young changemakers on the winner’s theme, fighting for children’s rights.

Marc Dullaert, chair of the expert committee and founder of KidsRights, the organisation behind the International Children’s Peace Prize, praised Bana’s impact, stating: “Bana represents the very essence of what the International Children’s Peace Prize stands for: courage, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Despite experiencing unimaginable hardships, Bana has transformed her story into a powerful advocacy platform, fighting for the millions of children silenced by conflict. Her dedication to education, peace, and the rights of children reminds us all that even the youngest voices can ignite systemic change. Bana provides the moral leadership that the world is longing for.

Bana joins the ranks of past winners such as Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, and Nkosi Johnson, all of whom have inspired global change through their activism and leadership. Her achievements serve as a rallying cry for the world to unite in addressing the needs of children in conflict zones and ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.

Last year’s winner, Nila Ibrahimi, was honoured for her work advocating for Afghan girls’ rights, and since winning, has expanded her “Her Story” initiative to provide a safe platform for Afghan girls to share their experiences. In 2025, Nila was announced as one of the Young Leaders for the SDGs in the United Nations.

Bana’s story continues to inspire change, serving as a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and potential of the world’s youth. Her voice is not just one of hope—it is the clarion call for action.

Global Child Forum is a Swedish non-profit foundation, initiated by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf and H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden, that mobilises leaders in business, civil society, academia and government to advance children’s rights. Through data, insight and convening power, Global Child Forum supports companies and investors to put children’s rights at the heart of strategy and practice.