Merwyn De Mello

Merwyn joined the Board of Directors in 2026, and hopes that MKLM continues to enhance its diversity through building its international membership.

Merwyn is a former lay missioner (1994-2009) with MKLM serving as a human rights advocate, community organizer and peacebuilder in Japan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. He once worked with MKLM doing recruitment and orientation, 2010-2011. He served as a Peace advisor with Mennonite Central Committee (2014-2020) in Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Currently, he works in Washington, D.C. as a Peacebuilder and Restorative Justice Facilitator. He is a board member of a network of faith leaders that organizes for immigrants’ justice and welfare. He also also volunteers, organizes, accompanies and advocates for the rights of migrants, refugees, torture survivors, and other marginalized groups. He collaborates in the designing, contextualization, and facilitation of workshops and trainings for different groups, on a range of topics within the peace curriculum.

His life partner is Kirstin is a climate advocacy and education coordinator with Mennonite Central Committee. Together, they are committed to values of nonviolence and simple living. He is a Lector and Peace and Safety Guardian at his parish, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.

Some of his most enjoyable and memorable international experiences include evening Iftar meals to break the Ramadan fast with Afghans on the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan, being rowed on a simple boat down the River Brahmaputra in Bangladesh while the boatsman sang songs composed by Rabindranth Tagore, and going on a pilgrimage with Franciscans through various holy sites in Assisi, Italy.