Pakistani peacebuilder and social development leader Sonal Dhanani, Founder of Parindey Wellbeing & Development Foundation, has been recognised as a recipient of the Pankaj Award to End Conflict at the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Dhanani was selected among ten global finalists for the inaugural award, an initiative by Regent Global in partnership with One Young World to recognise emerging leaders working to prevent conflict, bridge social divisions, and build sustainable peace.

The international recognition highlights her contributions to peacebuilding, mental health, gender justice, and community-led approaches to transformative justice in Pakistan.

Dhanani’s journey into peacebuilding began following the loss of her younger brother in a terrorist attack in 2015. Rather than allowing this tragedy to define her relationship with conflict, she committed herself to addressing the underlying conditions that perpetuate violence and exclusion.

Through Parindey, she has championed an approach that places collective wellbeing, healing, and community participation at the centre of peacebuilding.

The organisation’s initiatives include the Jaari Women Peacebuilders Fellowship, which supports women’s leadership in peace and security; youth mental health and wellbeing programmes; and community-led initiatives promoting Indigenous rights and climate justice.

Her work challenges conventional approaches to peacebuilding by arguing that sustainable peace requires more than ending violence. It requires addressing structural inequalities, strengthening community agency, and creating opportunities for healing and belonging.

The Pankaj Award to End Conflict was established by Professor Selva Pankaj and Dr Tharshiny Pankaj, whose experiences of displacement during Sri Lanka’s civil war inspired their commitment to supporting a new generation of peacebuilders.

Dhanani’s recognition places Pakistan’s grassroots peacebuilding efforts on an international platform and draws attention to the role of locally led organisations in advancing more inclusive and sustainable approaches to peace.

The One Young World Summit 2026 brings together young leaders from around the world to exchange ideas and advance solutions to pressing global challenges.

For Dhanani, the recognition represents an opportunity to amplify the experiences of communities in Pakistan and strengthen international collaboration around transformative justice and collective wellbeing.