Biography of Gail Paine

Gail Paine has been involved in reconciliation work nearly all her life. Beginning in 1975, she served as a missionary in Zimbabwe for six years during the most difficult and intense period of war in that country. Standing up for racial harmony in the midst of a racial conflict, Ms. Paine became familiar with the complexities and sensibilities of the challenges of prejudice and bigotry.

In Zimbabwe's capital city high schools and university, Ms. Paine created programs teaching a curriculum entitled "The Critique and Counterproposal to Communism". Her teaching was derived from a spiritual base, not political, since communism is a God denying ideology. After receiving death threats from the new regime, she left Zimbabwe and worked in Malawi, South Africa, Zaire, and Kenya.

Upon returning to the U.S., Ms. Paine continued her reconciliation work by becoming a pastor, focusing on conflict resolution and family counseling. She was also active in the Anchorage Interfaith Council.

Ms. Paine returned to Africa after the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, and was instrumental in establishing the humanitarian aid organization, Women for Women in Rwanda. Through this experience in Rwanda, her commitment to work in the field of genocide prevention solidified. Ms. Paine currently works with The International Campaign to End Genocide and Genocide Watch.