Wamũyũ Teresia Wachira is a Kenyan and member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), commonly known as the Loreto Sisters. She attained her PhD in Peace Studies on “Experiences of violence in schools in Kenya”from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom; a Master’s degree in Applied Theology Peace and Justice Studies from Middlesex University, United Kingdom; and Bachelor’s degree in Education from Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.  

She has been a teacher and principal in Loreto schools in Kenya, specializing in the education of young women and training them for peacemaking and reconciliation work. Currently she is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader of the Peace and Conflict studies at St Paul University (an ecumenical private university) in Nairobi, Kenya. She is a member of the Board of Pax Christi International, the global Catholic peace movement.  She also serves as a member of the Advisory Committee of the IBVM – United Desk, New York; the co-coordinator of the Loreto Eastern Africa Province Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) committee; and as an active member of the steering committee of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.

As a peacebuilder, she is interested in building a culture of peace especially among youth; working with women both at the grassroots and policy making levels; peacebuilding with the Catholic Women Associations and also Catholic Men Associations in both in the rural and urban areas of Kenya. She is also an active advocate for children’s rights, gender equality, the termination of female genital mutilation, and for just peace approaches (active nonviolence) to addressing violence in today’s context.

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