Journey of Growth at SIPS: Building Peace Through Environmental Education

Macson Almeida, from Mumbai, India, has a strong background in environmental education and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Mumbai. With six years of experience working for non-profits, Macson has also contributed to wildlife conservation as a researcher in northern India, helping create a comprehensive database of tiger populations. His dedication to environmental causes and education reflects a deep commitment to sustainability and social impact. While he initially envisioned studying in Europe, the Peace Studies program at Soka University stood out as a unique opportunity to explore global issues from a distinct perspective. Confident that SIPS would align with his passion for social and environmental change, Macson decided to enroll in the program as a 5th batch student.

During his time in SIPS, Macson found a strong sense of unity with classmates from nine different countries. He recalls the invaluable support from this diverse group, noting how they worked together on academic and programmatic initiatives despite their differences. Without SIPS, he would not have been able to make the connection between peace and environmental education so he is grateful to have had access to his advisor, Professor Sachi Edwards, who guided him in this direction. Currently, Macson is working at M&G Communication School, employing a different approach towards education by using his skills and academic knowledge that he has learned in SIPS to incorporate and create a new curriculum based on Peace and Environmental Education.

To current and future SIPS students, Macson offers such encouragement: Keep believing in yourself and continue to excel in what your passion is. Getting an entry in the SIPS course means you are already excellent and you can only go higher from here. If you are a foreigner, make friends and treat them like family. Reach out to your seniors, they are always ready to help!