A story of friendship, outrage and action
It all began in 2008, when Véronique and Solveig met while working in the non-profit sector. A friendship was born, built on shared values and a desire to do things differently.
A few years later, reading A Long Way Gone, the memoir of former child soldier Ishmael Beah, proved a turning point. Shaken by his story, they decided to turn their outrage into action.
In 2013, they travelled to northern Uganda to meet local stakeholders and young people scarred by armed conflict. That trip laid the first foundations of WAPA.
From the outset, they shared one conviction: the people who best understand the realities on the ground must be at the heart of the solutions. WAPA was built on this idea, placing local skills, initiatives and expertise at the centre of its work.
A story still being written
Over the years, WAPA has evolved, developed new partnerships and expanded its work with children affected by armed conflict.
In 2026, a new chapter opened with the merger of WAPA International and Les Enfants de Panzi et d’Ailleurs. Two stories came together around a shared aim: to support children affected by armed conflict and give them the means to rebuild their lives.
Today, WAPA continues its work alongside its local partners, in particular in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Colombia and on the Myanmar–Thailand border.
WAPA has grown and evolved, but it remains true to its founding conviction: lasting solutions are built with those who best understand the realities on the ground.