Women in Peacebuilding

Experience of Alumni of the

Conflict Transformation Across Cultures

CONTACT

Violent conflicts prevent…

Sustainable Development

Sri Lanka, after attacks

Violent conflicts prevent…

Social Justice

Violent conflicts prevent…

Cross Cultural Education

A school in Rwanda after the genocide, 1994

How can we analyze root causes of conflicts?

What are the concrete steps to emerge from the revenge cycle?

How can we foster the creation of a more positive vision of the future?

How to transform conflicts?

How can we sustain peace?

CONTACT strives to foster the creation of a more positive vision of the future by bringing together people from all over the world and from all cross sections of society who are committed to peacebuilding and conflict transformation

What is CONTACT?

• Stands for Conflict Transformation Across Cultures

CONTACT has provided training in the field of peacebuilding to over 900 participants from diverse cultural, geographical, and experiential backgrounds since its creation in 1997.

Historical Timeline

1997: program is founded by Dr. Paula Green (only the Summer Peacebuilding)

2000 first class of the Graduate Certificate Program in Conflict Transformation

2001 First Mid-Year Seminar in Cyprus

Historical Timeline

2002 CONTACT AfricaGhanaSouth Africa

2003 Mid Year Seminar in Bosnia and Hertzegovina

2004 develops the African Peace and Development Initiatives Program, focus on Uganda and Ethiopia

Historical Timeline

2006 Mid-Year Seminar in Kigali Rwanda

2007 most countries represented in the program and matches the highest number of students 73

2008 program strengthen ties with Brattleboro Community

Historical Timeline

2008 Senegal-experimental program

2009 first march in the Heiffers Parade

2010 Kathmandu, Nepal 1st SAARC Peacebuilding and

Education Program

73 participants, 35 countries 1 purpose: Peace

Building Blocks

Summer Peacebuilding Program3 credits-3 weeks on SIT campus

Master Degree Conflict TransformationService, Leadership & Management

SPP + Certificate + 16 MA on campus credits +12 off campus credits

Graduate Certificate in Conflict TransformationSPP + 11 credits taken on line and independently +Mid-Year Seminar in Rwanda

• Explore the causes and complexities of conflicts

• Learn the basic concepts and skills for conflict transformation work

• Have an opportunity to become a part of a diverse community

By attending one of the CONTACT programs, participants…..

• Promote dialogue and reconciliation• Address the psychological and social

effects of trauma• Develop culturally sensitive models and

accommodate in indigenous approach to healing

• Provide emotional support to humanitarian aid workers

• Train local professionals

• Foster relationships with individuals around the world

“I’ve connected more deeply with my identity and potential contributions as a peacebuilder and thus become more

aware of my own specific role in all these interactions. As a consequence, I’m more self-assured, active, and creative in

my daily practice of active nonviolence.”

“Because of CONTACT, I identified my own skills to design & facilitate peace-building programs. It [has] guided me to start

our own organization and today I am the director of programs.”

CONTACT Africa

CONTACT South Asia

CONTACT WOMENDar Mikula

• “at my church I I did a ‘sermon’ on Global Peace that reflected mostly on my experience at CONTACT. No one stirred for seven minutes and people are still talking about how moved they were. Two weeks later I did a seminar called ‘Peace starts here’ and 40 people showed up (attendace is usually 10-12)”. ‘

Dar Mikula, USA

CONTACT WOMENJane Mandina

• MPANZI

CONTACT WOMEN

CONTACT WOMENDora Urujeni

CONTACT WOMENDora Urujeni

MALE ALLIES

“There are in fact so many causes and conditions for enmity. Within these causes

and conditions your way of conducting yourself is also included.”

-His Holiness, Dalai Lama