In Cochabamba, Bolivia, where the rhythms of daily life are shaped by both tradition and change, Paola Saldivias Mendez is learning to sit with complexity. Recently returned home after completing her Master’s in Global Studies at UNC Chapel Hill as a Rotary Peace Fellow, she carries with her not just academic knowledge, but a deepened sense of purpose.

Now, as a Founder’s Fellow with MBBI, she is focused on building bridges in both a practical and deeply relational sense. At the core of her fellowship is a commitment to reigniting relationships with professionals who previously participated in the International Peace Training Institute, many of whom have built strong foundations in mediation and peacebuilding. Paola is invested in exploring the expansive potential of diversity in mediation, making room for women, youth, indigenous and LGBTIQ+ (amongst others) peacebuilders, practitioners and mediators to share and guide..

Her work centers on connecting people, ideas, and opportunities, particularly across Latin America. She describes her role as one that helps align resources with communities and individuals ready to engage in meaningful work. Part of that effort involves continuing to support the initiatives alumni have already been leading by connecting them with opportunities on the ground and pairing them with seasoned mediators. In doing so, she is helping cultivate a space for peer learning, intergenerational richness, and interregional knowledge exchange. At the same time, she continues strengthening relationships within MBBI and contributing to a growing network of practitioners working on the ground.