info@childsoldiers.org
Phone: +1 (902) 494-6637
Fax: +1 (902) 494-3825
By Mail
The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative
Dalhousie University
P.O. Box 15000
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
B3H 4R2
Physical address
Suite 301, Henry Hicks Building
Dalhousie University
6299 South Street, Halifax, NS
View map »
Media
For media inquiries please contact our office line:
Office: +1 (902) 494-6637
Email: info@childsoldiers.org (or contact one of the individuals below)
Media Resources
- Releases: http://www.childsoldiers.org/category/media/
- Photos: http://www.childsoldiers.org/photos/
- Logo & branding: http://www.childsoldiers.org/logo/
Founder
LGen (Ret’d) Roméo Dallaire, Founder
Roméo Dallaire is a retired lieutenant-general, Senator, and celebrated humanitarian. In 1993, LGen Dallaire was appointed Force Commander for UNAMIR, where he bore witness to the Rwandan genocide. Since his retirement, he has become an outspoken advocate for human rights, mental health and war-affected children. He founded the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative, an organization committed to ending the use of child soldiers worldwide, and is the author of two best-selling books.
Staff
Dr. Shelly Whitman, Executive Director
shelly@childsoldiers.org
Shelly took up the post of Director of the Initiative in January 2010. Prior to this she has had an academic career teaching in International Development Studies and Political Science at Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University and the University of Botswana. Her research interests have been broadly focused on issues related to peace, development and human security. More specifically she has conducted research on small arms and light weapons in Southern Africa, gender and conflict, children and conflict, the international criminal court, the Great Lakes region and peace and reconciliation efforts in post-conflict societies.
From 2000-2002, Shelly worked as Head of Research on the inter-Congolese dialogue, under the direction of Former Botswana President, Sir Ketumile Masire. Previous to this post, she was a Research Consultant at UNICEF, NY and worked under the direction of Ambassador Stephen Lewis on the OAU Rwanda Genocide Report. Shelly recently introduced a new course on Children and Armed Conflict at Dalhousie University and took on the additional role of Director of the Child Soldiers Initiative in November 2009.
Tanya Zayed, Deputy Director
tanya@childsoldiers.org
Since joining the Initiative in 2008, Tanya Zayed has acted as a focal point for all military and police training programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana and Canada. Proficient in curriculum design and facilitation, Tanya graduated from Saint Paul University with a Master’s degree in Conflict Studies.
Prior to joining the Initiative, Tanya worked with Save the Children (Canada) in Bogota (Colombia), where she contributed to the “Rewrite the Future” programme on Education in Emergencies. Tanya has also worked in Cochabamba (Bolivia) with various programmes dealing with at-risk children and youth who are living on the streets and in prisons.
Josh Boyter, Communications Officer
josh@childsoldiers.org
Josh Boyter is the Initiative’s Communications Officer. Josh first assisted the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldier Initiative in 2010. Recently completing his MA at Dalhousie, Josh explores the intersection between media and development through academic research. His research focuses are on citizen journalism, photography and the visual representation of child soldiers in development advertisments.
Prior to joining the initiative, Josh was involved in a number of media projects and publications and worked as the Youth Engagement Coordinator at Journalists for Human Rights.
Carl Conradi, Programme Officer
carl@childsoldiers.org
Carl first assisted The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative in 2009, when he conducted three months of research in Bukavu (Democratic Republic of Congo) concerning communication strategies aimed at raising awareness of DDR processes amongst active child soldiers. He returned to the Initiative in 2012, to act as chief researcher and focal point for programmes related to child piracy.
Before joining the Initiative, Carl worked on several youth-oriented conflict management projects in Somaliland (Northern Somalia), the Netherlands, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon and Yemen. He is also an Insight Collaborative Fellow and has worked with the World Food Programme in Yemen and Egypt. He earned his MA in Conflict, Security and Development from King’s College London.
Lori Ward, Director of Fund Development
lori@childsoldiers.org
Lori joined the Initiative in 2013 as Director of Fund Development. Prior to her work with the Initiative, Lori served for nearly five years as Fund Development and Communications Manager for the Coady International Institute, helping secure major project funding and significantly grow the Institute’s work.
She held Development positions at The Banff Centre, including Research and Proposal Writer and then Development Officer, Campaign during their successful campaign, which raised $123 million towards capital and programming initiatives. From 2003-2008, Lori served as a Director of the Banff Community Foundation, including two terms as Secretary of the Board.
Lori holds a BA (Hons.) from Trent University in Environmental Studies and Comparative Development Studies, and a National Certificate in Fundraising Management from Mount Royal College.
