World Vision believes: Communities have a natural capacity to live in peace, given the opportunity Conflict is both a result of poverty and a factor towards increasing poverty; for this reason, development work is especially important in areas prone to or recovering from conflict Neutral development agencies like World Vision can sometimes do more than governments, political parties or local decision-makers to contribute towards the peace process Where conflict has split communities, educating and involving children in peace-making initiatives assists with reconciliation and reduces the risk of future violence
| Learn More:
> Conflict & Peacebuilding
> Children and Conflict
|
Conflict: Our response Sports for Peace in Sri Lanka The official cease-fire between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers, in place since 2002, has brought new opportunities for community peacebuilding. Children, who have grown up with the constant threat of violence or displacement, have become vocal and enthusiastic supporters of peace in Sri Lanka. Schools throughout the nation have used peace as a topic for essays, competitions, drawings and cultural events. Many young people have never travelled or met people from other parts of Sri Lanka before, because it has been too dangerous. For them, World Vision initiatives like peace camps, exchange visits and volunteer community projects bring home the advantages of peace. Last year World Vision organised a country-wide Sports for Peace tournament, involving some 1,200 participants from 21 communities. Without taking language, ethnicity or religion into account, participants were grouped into teams to compete at volleyball, netball and cricket. “This must be what peace is like,” said Krishnakumari, aged 25, whose team made it through to the netball finals. “This is the first time I have played a game with youth from different districts in the country.”
Read more about Sports for Peace Indonesia: turning a new page for peace Since the late 1990s, ethnic tensions have led to a rise in violence between religious groups in several Indonesian regions. World Vision’s programs in divided communities are designed to promote connections between religious groups, instead of inflaming existing tensions. 
Indonesia:
Reading in peace Welcome to 'Hak Anak Indonesia!' a magazine where children tell their parents what to do. Read more... |
Their "do no harm" neutrality is often called upon when mediation and advice is needed for community decisions that would otherwise be difficult to resolve. Knowing that children have the ability to influence their parents' attitudes, World Vision also promotes peace in schools. Teachers are given curriculum materials and children's textbooks with a clear message of peace, understanding and tolerance between Indonesia's many religious, ethnic and linguistic groups. There's even a magazine just for children, with a combination of stories and easy-to-read comics exploring issues of peace and justice. Partnering for peace
World Vision’s work at a community level is important, but so is the role it plays at a regional or international level.
In many regions, World Vision has won the respect of community leaders as a neutral and inclusive organisation, enabling them to work on peace-building initiatives without accusations of bias. This includes working with governments and local decision-makers, and conducting training in conflict management techniques to authorities or other agencies. World Vision can also act as a 'watchdog' to reduce the incidence and repercussions of community violence, and help communities in crisis to gain the attention and support of global peace-building networks. Read global report - Grassroots Efforts to Resolve Conflict Internationally, World Vision takes an active role in many international partnerships working to ban or control the use of arms, including the International Action Network on Small Arms, the Humanitarian Coalition on Small Arms and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
|
