This presentation will give insights into the work of CANVAS whose work is rather to spread the word of “people power” to the world than to achieve victories against one dictator or another. Its mission is to explain to the world what a powerful tool nonviolent struggle is when it comes to achieving freedom, democracy and human rights. Headquartered in Belgrade, CANVAS is a non-profit institution run by Slobodan Djinovic and Srdja Popovic who were outstanding activists in the anti Milosevic protests in the 1990s. Today CANVAS operates a network of international trainers and consultants with experience of successful democratic movements. CANVAS advocates for the use of nonviolence resistance to promote human rights and democracy. The organization has worked with pro-democracy activists from more than 50 countries, including Iran, Zimbabwe, Burma, Venezuela, Ukraine, Georgia, Palestine, Western Sahara, West Papua, Eritrea, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Tonga, Tunisia and Egypt. CANVAS works only in response to requests for assistance and offers free trainings to activists.

Evangeline Moore is a graduate in International Affairs at Northeastern University, Boston, and currently an intern at CANVAS.