A peace builder, Greeshma is running an online dialogue youth forum with the motive of promoting a culture of nonviolence, peace, and love for nature.

Greshma P. Raju is the founder of Ecopeace Teen Café, Punalur. She started this initiative in October 2021.

Ecopeace is an online dialogue and transformative education program for teenagers. She is also an Earth Charter Young Leader. She is specially connected to Earth Charter Principle 16: “Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence, and peace.”

Greshma hails from Kerala and did all her schooling in Kerala itself. She had been volunteering since she was in high school, working with the United Religions Initiative. For several years, she was the Youth Ambassador of the organization.

Greshma says that since childhood she had seen people of all religions living in peace and harmony around her. When she used to hear the news of conflicts and civil wars in other countries, she used to feel very sad. For this reason, it came to her mind that we should share our stories with the people of the country. So she started collaborating with many such organizations.

In 2019, she earned her MA in International Peace Studies from the United Nations Mandated University for Peace, gaining experience with the UN system. Greshma, who was pursuing a master's degree in international peace studies at the University for Peace in Costa Rica, was motivated by the way the institution promoted environmental and natural resource preservation. She  says that the multicultural environment in Costa Rica during her year there changed her life.

Greshma wanted to connect climate change with peace building so that people would be aware of this issue. Particularly in nations like India, where people are facing issues because of climate change.

She started an Ecospace Teen Café training program that lasted four months and featured workshops led by international experts, had movie nights, and assignments that helped participants learn about the real-life situations in their communities and see how they related to the larger picture. Both The Pollination Project and Euphrates Institute provided funding for this endeavor.

Greshma says that while she was preparing for the civil services exam, she realized that promoting peace is her passion and that she wanted to pursue a career in this field.

When asked about her role models, Greshma says that she looks up to her parents and siblings as her mentors. She says that they have supported her throughout the journey so far. She was also motivated to promote peace by Dr. Abraham Karickam, Asia Secretary General, United Religions Initiative (URI). She also admires Mirian Vilela, who serves as the executive director of both the UPEACE Center for Education for Sustainable Development and the Earth Charter International Secretariat.

Greshma’s advice for whoever wants to work as a peace builder is that although this field is very challenging, at the same time it gives you peace of mind and happiness.

In her free time, Greshma enjoys watching biopics. Along with traveling, she enjoys listening to music.