Mika Vanhanen – Ambassador of Knowledge, Peacebuilder and Founder of Peace Circle®
I’m Mika Vanhanen – a Finnish educator, musician and peacebuilder with over 30 years of experience in sustainability education and global collaboration.
In 2000, I founded ENO – Environment Online, a school network that grew to over 10,000 schools in 157 countries and inspired young people to plant more than 30 million trees.
Today, I continue this mission through Peace Circle® – a concept I’ve developed to support reflection, local peacebuilding, value-based education, and the creation of Peace Circle® parks – from grassroots to cities, with a vision to reach 100 countries by 2030.
“Treat all living things as you wish to be treated.”
— Peace Circle®
A Journey of Trees, Trust and Transformation
My journey began as a teacher in a small Finnish school in the early 1990s. I believed – and still believe – that education is not only about information, but about connection, action, and care.
My school was among the first Finnish schools to join the GLOBE programme after the Rio Earth Summit, using early digital tools to observe nature and share findings with scientists and students around the world. That experience planted the first seeds of what would become ENO – Environment Online, a global school network for sustainable development.
When I launched ENO in 2000, the term “Education for Sustainable Development” had not yet been introduced by the UN. But in practice, we were already living it – combining digital collaboration, hands-on action and global solidarity.
Over the years, ENO grew into a movement of over 10,000 schools in 157 countries. Together, we planted more than 30 million trees – and built bridges of trust across borders, generations and cultures.
Expanding the Mission
Later, I joined TreebuddyEarth, working on transparent, tech-enabled climate action with communities and companies. I am currently on furlough from this position.
In 2022, as war returned to Europe, I founded Plant and Care for Peace – a non-profit network connecting tree planting with peace education, as a quiet act of solidarity, resilience and hope
From Trees to Peace Circles® – A Global Learning Journey
Over the years, I’ve worked in more than 50 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas – planting trees, collaborating with educators and communities, and sharing the seeds of peace education. Here are two moments that reflect how Peace Circle® is growing globally:
Hawaii 2014 – Peace Trees and the IVLP Program
As part of the U.S. State Department’s IVLP program, I visited national parks across the U.S. and brought our international group to Punahou School in Honolulu – President Obama’s former school. For over 20 years, the school had planted peace trees with us, and on that day, we shared songs and stories beneath their shade.
Philippines 2023 – Planting Mangroves for Peace
In the Philippines, I guided local youth and communities in planting mangroves – a core Peace Circle® activity that connects ecological restoration with shared responsibility and peacebuilding.
🎥 Watch on YouTube »
These experiences – from global classrooms to mangrove roots, and from children’s songs to acts of quiet solidarity – began to shape a deeper idea. The vision of Peace Circle® grew gradually, as I realized that sustainable peace must be nurtured not only through words, but through shared spaces, values and action.
In 2024, that vision took form as Peace Circle® – a living and scalable model for values-based learning, community dialogue and visible action. It connects people, nature and purpose — turning compassion, knowledge and responsibility into shared peace across all levels of society.
Peace Circle® is not only a park; it is a framework that can take root in schools, cities, organisations and public life — wherever values grow into action
Peace grows when the Heart, the Head and the Hands are in balance — when compassion guides, knowledge illuminates, and action leads the way.
For people and nature.
30 Years of Leadership in Education and Peace
With over three decades of experience in global sustainability education, Mika Vanhanen has combined digital innovation, community engagement and intercultural learning to inspire action for people and the planet.
He has led programmes at the intersection of environment, peace and education – from classrooms to international arenas. He founded ENO – Environment Online in 2000, a global school network active in more than 150 countries. Under his coordination, ENO schools planted over 30 million trees and built a shared global learning community through campaigns, trainings and conferences.
Mika served as CEO of the ENO Association until 2020 and coordinated several international events, including the World Summit of Students for Climate (2019). He has also worked with climate-action startups such as TreebuddyEarth, and leads the NGO Plant and Care for Peace, founded in 2022.
He holds a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Joensuu and has pursued continuing studies in ICT and science education. His career began in the 1980s, with an early focus on music and creative learning – elements that continue to shape his educational philosophy today.
Recognition
Mika’s work has been honoured with numerous national and international awards, including:
-
WWF Panda Prize (2004)
-
Microsoft Road Ahead Prize (1997)
-
Energy Globe Award (2008)
-
Finland’s State Award for Public Information (2011)
-
Finalist, UN Forest Heroes (2012)
-
Finalist, Nordic Environment Prize (2016)
-
Act of the Year, Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (2019)
“Mika has proven time and again his dedication to resolving environmental issues by engaging individuals and communities across continents. He is truly an inspiration.”
Dr. Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE
Founder – The Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace
Latest reflections
Stories and insights from the ongoing journey of Peace Circle® – where values continue to grow into action.
Peace Circle® brings peace to life – not just in minds, but in shared spaces.