In 1998 Betty Williams participates at a conference organized by the Grauso Foundation in Cagliari where she meets Laura Kiss. A deep friendship ensues and in 2001, after September 11th, it is decided to host in Rome the First International Summit for the "Creation of Safe havens for Children in War Zones". The Summit is held under the patronage of the Rome Municipality and with the support of the Grauso Foundation.

In 2002, with the irreplaceable help of Enzo Cursio, on Mayor Veltroni's staff, the Peace Mission for breaking the embargo in Iraq is organized in order to bring relief, in the form of commodities under embargo, to the children of the Paediatric Hospital. 15 tons of goods are delivered, collected thanks to the action of volunteer members of the Italian Soka Gakkai.

In the November of 2003 during the popular protest in Basilicata to stop the legislative proposal for installing the European Nuclear Waste Plant at Terzo Cavone in the Municipality of Scanzano Jonico, Betty Williams petitions that the ground be used instead for the construction of the first "City of Peace for the Children of the World".

After just 30 days, thanks to the interest of the Regional Advisor, Adeltina Salierno, to the Governor of the region, Phillip Bubbico and right honourable Salvatore Adduce, 100.000 Euro are allocated and inserted in the 2004 Regional Budget for a "feasibility study of the proposed project", destined to the realization of a CRIDAN Centre of Studies. From that moment on, the work of World Centers of Compassion for Children and Betty Williams in the world, solidifies to find national and international support for the project, City of Peace.

From September 22-24th 2006, the "First International Summit of Mothers of the Earth for World Peace" is organized in Piacenza together with the  Gorbachev Foundation Italia, and the support of the Municipality and Province of Piacenza as well as private sponsors. Participants among other personalities, the President of Emilia Romagna Region, Vasco Errani, Province of Piacenza president, Gianluigi Boiardi and the Mayor of Piacenza, Roberto Reggio, Betty Williams, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Jodie Williams, Shirin Ebadi and Scott Ritter.

In that occasion a "Heart to Heart Match" is organized in the town stadium of Piacenza, played out by the National Team of Singers and the National Team of Mayors. Funds are raised for the City of Peace for Children Project in Basilicata and for other benefit projects of Piacenza Municipality. The first Education to Peace Courses for Teachers are promoted at Castellarquato conducted by Teresa Campi.

January 30th 2007, during a visit of Betty Williams to Basilicata, it is announced by Vito De Filippo the President of the Region, that within the Monastery of Santa Maria D'orsoleo a Sant'Arcangelo in Val D'Agri, Wccc International will have an official seat, devoted to peace formation and that the Basilicata Region will sustain the organization of the Second Summit - "Mothers of the Earth for World Peace".

On June 25th, 2007 the first seat of Wccc International is officially inaugurated inside the Palazzo Baronale of Scanzano Jonico and the first peace formation courses for teachers in Basilicata, conducted by Fiora Bemporad, are held. Thanks to the sponsorship of Sigma Tau, Milena Kaneva began filming excerpts of the courses and inter-actions for the realization of a didactic CD Rom, to be translated into multiple languages.

In July of 2007 the feasibility study is completed and on November 19th the Lucania Regional Council, thanks to Vito De Filippo, approves an allocation of 4,4 million Euro for the start up.

On December 14th, the presentation of the project press conference is held within the ambit of the 8th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome.