Professor Dr. Ranga Zinyemba (Rector of the Catholic University of Zimbabwe in Harare)

Professor Zinyemba provided an overview of the conflict in Afghanistan with a focus on the recent three peace talks. USA-Taliban Peace Talks, Pakistan-Taliban Peace Talks, Afghanistan-Taliban Peace Talks. Participants from various countries were particularly interested in how other countries in crisis situations (e.g., conflict over state and language borders in Cameroon, Israel-Palestine conflict) can learn from the peace process. Critical questions were raised about whether the West has a genuine interest in a peace process, since arms producers -and traders- profit from violent conflicts. Memorable quote from the chat. "Fratelli Tutti echoes Isaiah 11: 6-9 call for building relationships particularly when the world feels so politically divided. This will help heal the divide."

Dr. Eva Baillie

Dr. Friederike Repnik (AGIAMONDO)

The topics of the workshop were different aspects of reconciliation. Already the origin of the word (Romanic: compensation, Germanic: satisfaction, reparation) shows differences.
Participants shared their understanding of reconciliation and what distinguishes forgiveness from reconciliation.
Different levels of reconciliation are defined by the Colombian Jesuit Mauricio García Durán: reconciliation a) with me, b) with God, c) with others, and d) with creation.
According to the complexity, different focal points are required in post-conflict situations at the places where AGIAMONDO Civil Peace Service specialists are deployed:

• Stabilization of individuals and relationships (e.g. South Sudan)
• Psychosocial support for coping with everyday life (e.g. Liberia)
• Creating meeting spaces (e.g. Sri Lanka)
• Practice of nonviolence, development of values, strengthening of political institutions (e.g. Colombia)

The importance of changing perspectives became clear in an exercise in which participants each took on and expressed a perspective as a victim, a perpetrator or a bystander.

Thomas Hoogen

Bilal Almasri, Iyad Asfour, Kirsten Steinhoff-Fahadi (EIRENE International Christian Peace Service e.V.)

With its project "Strong Neighbors", EIRENE supports refugees and their environment in Germany in dealing with conflicts. In workshops, seminars, public events and training courses, refugees and people from their "neighborhood" learn how to deal with conflicts constructively, thus enabling peaceful coexistence and better integration. The speakers Bilas Almasri, Iyad Asfour and Kirsten Steinhoff- Fahadi from EIRENE, showed in their workshop interactively the methods and exercises they use in their seminars. The educational work is composed of a mixture of exercises on Nonviolent Communication, Intercultural Communication and anti-racist education.

Monika König

Professor Dr. Georg Albers (KatHO NRW)

Probably everyone knows them, moments in which the proverbial "scales fall from the eyes". Situations from the past appear (supposedly) clear and distinct against the background of new knowledge. When it comes to conflict situations, the events are often passed on in such a way that they strengthen one's own position and expose the other side. The larger the conflict, the stronger and more self-referential the narrative.

Since the Euromaidan at the latest, there has been a bitter war in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian troops. The war is fueled by the delicate conflict of religious, ethnic, geographical, and historical narratives. But how does one succeed in resolving such "narrative conflicts"? Organizations such as the OSCE rely on dialogue, or more precisely on "narrative dialogue." Here, it is not the conflict as such that is seen as the real problem, but the breakdown of dialogue between the conflict parties. The aim is therefore to bring people from the opposing parties into dialogue with each other, thus opening up a space in which awareness of the position and narratives of the respective opposing party can grow and opposing perspectives are allowed to coexist.

The concept relies on communication, because all human experience is mediated by language, and so are Paths to Peace.

Johannes Duwe

Dr. Cordula Reimann (CORE)

Collective trauma" is understood as a conscious or unconscious identity-forming traumatization of collectives (families, ethnic, social and religious groupings and communities). Dr. Cordula Reimann embedded this important yet often overlooked topic in her workshop, through reference to peacebuilding, within the framework of the peace conference. Indeed, as a different perspective and at the same time an explanation for long-lasting intractable violent conflicts, as well as a more holistic and complete understanding of violent dynamics, the topic of "Collective Trauma" plays a major role. It offers new entry points for peacebuilding and can foster critical reflection on the field. Specifically, this means addressing points such as trauma sensitivity, biographical work in the sense of Don Bar-On ("To Reflect and Trust"), work with body and unconsciousness via sports, art & theater, or even conflict analysis. Dr. Cordula Reimann simultaneously created a theoretical framework to examples of concrete application and defined "Collective Trauma" in terms of "Collective Mind-Sets", "Collective Emotions" and "Collective Narratives". The participants of the workshop were also given the opportunity to openly discuss questions about the forms of collective trauma in our own society, or the approaches and starting points for the transformation of collective or transgenerational transmission of trauma.

Arnd Wiederhold

Lea Scholtes, Moritz Weßer (Pax Christi DV Aachen)

Pax Christi Aachen: Young and peace-minded: International peace services with a future? Under this motto, we discussed challenges and opportunities for voluntary peace services for young adults and also explored answers to the question: How much peace is there in peace services? by means of short interviews with former volunteers.

It became clear to us in this way that the volunteers had intensively engaged with peacebuilding during their service and were able to develop an idea of how they could contribute to peace. At the same time, we realized together that getting to know each other, exchange and reconciliation must not only take place with countries of the global south, but also with our neighboring countries, which we only supposedly know well.

More about the peace services of pax christi and the video sequences with the former volunteers can be found at www.pax-friedensdienste.de      

Sr. Ida Haurand

Father Dr. Chowaram Paul Anto (Peace Channel, Nagaland, Northeast India)

"Peer mediation", an educational tool for conflict resolution, is the central element with which Father Anto in Nagaland (North-East India) tries to resolve conflicts peacefully, especially among schoolchildren and students. To this end, he trains young volunteers who take on the role of mediators. As is usual in mediation, mediation must be between two disputing parties and voluntary, the mediator must be recognized and there must be a will to resolve the conflict. Then both sides are allowed to present their views, a viable solution is sought for both sides, this is recorded in writing and then reviewed again after a reasonable time. In Nagaland, a province in which the conflicts of north-east India are concentrated as if in a burning glass, young people are growing up who are experienced and trained in peaceful conflict resolution and who, in turn, can be multipliers.

Dr. Martin Stauch

Dagmar Nolden, Anne Kruck (Berghof Foundation)

In the workshop, speakers Dagmar Nolden and Anne Kruck will provide insight into the practical approaches of a multi-year peace education project of the Berghof Foundation in Jordan. In the region of the Zaatari refugee camp, the project team developed projects together with the local people with the aim of raising awareness for a peace-promoting civil society. The aim was to anchor the basic values of non-violence, tolerance, mutual respect and participation in the Jordanian education system. Cooperation partners were local leaders, especially teachers from schools, universities and NGOs. The concrete methods and tools of peace work were developed together with them. Intercultural cooperation required a high degree of sensitivity, starting with the translation of the term "peace", which in the context of the local people was understood literally as "pacification/subjugation". Concrete methods of peace work were implemented in workshops with adolescents and young adults, such as theater pedagogical elements and biography work to reflect on patterns of action, role models and social structures. By working with the cooperation partners on an institutional level and integrating the contents into the educational work of schools, universities and NGOs, the peace work can be continued independently on site even after the project has officially ended.

The Berghof Foundation is an independent and non-profit non-governmental organization. It supports conflict parties and other actors in their efforts to achieve political and social change and lasting peace through peacebuilding, peace education and conflict transformation. More information about the project    

Magdalena Onyango

Martina Freise (gewaltfrei handeln e. V.)

Martina Freise from gewaltfrei handeln e. V. led the workshop "Listening - communicating empathically". The participants in the workshop dealt, among other things, with self-empathy and empathy for others. At the beginning, the participants were asked to take part in a needs exercise, in order to then discuss what feelings they have when certain needs are met or unmet. After the self-empathy exercise, the focus was on empathy for the other person, i.e. mindful and appreciative listening. In small groups, the participants were asked to tell each other about moments when you were very concerned/satisfied/touched. The subsequent reflection on the exchange served to show the participants that nonviolent communication is an interplay of self-empathy and empathy with others. The freestyle is "I-messages", in which one names one's own feelings & needs as well as (real!) requests and wishes. It is rather to ask questions and try to understand the other person. The workshop was limited to a group size of 15 people.

Milan Ivic

Hubert Heindl (APTE)

Since 2003, 280 participants from 30 African countries have attended the Peace University, 31% of them women. At this annual "summer university" in different countries, active teaching by international trainers takes place during the three-week period in connection with local peace practice. The participants are already involved in peace work and learn here to reflect in depth on their previous experiences, to restructure them and to place them in a deeper, conceptual context. After the end of the course, the Peace University accompanies the TN with one year of coaching in applying what they have learned in their respective institutional context and area of responsibility.

Several international peace awards underline the importance and quality of this project, which is also subsidized by missio.

Contact: apte(at)apte-net.de    

Georg Poddig

Christine Lieser, Claudia Osthues (Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e. V./forumZFD)

How does peace actually work? This is a central question in ForumZfD's work at schools. But how do you talk about it with children and young people? A theater workshop, a film, e.g. about the Middle East conflict, or a peace walk can be impulses to start a conversation. For what reasons are people forced to leave their homes? How are the causes of flight related to our lifestyle and consumer behavior? What problems do refugees face here in Germany? What is the reality of life like for people in conflict regions? How do people of the same age in conflict regions campaign for a more peaceful coexistence? Dealing with these questions, sooner or later leads to another question: "What can we do for a more peaceful world?"

Manuela Vosen

Emmanuel Wullingdool, Remy Ullo (CECOTAPS Ghana)

The two speakers presented the work of CETOTAPS in the Upper West Region of Ghana (approx. 700,000 inhabitants). The focus was on the training units for conflict resolution with young people and in the school context, as well as the focus on "leadership training", since poor leadership skills were identified as the greatest threat to peace processes in conflicts over religion, ethnicity and land ownership. For the participants of the digital workshop, it was particularly interesting to learn about the methods of training and the practical implementation of reconciliation policy approaches in a concrete context.

Dr. Eva Baillie

Fr. Isaac Vasumu Augustine (Catholic University of Leuven)

Father Isaac Vasumu Augustine from the Catholic University of Leuven provided deep insights into the multi-religious situation in Nigeria and spoke about religious fanaticism on both the Christian and Muslim sides. Fr. Isaac made it clear that there can be no peace without dialogue between the religions, which must always be an inward appeal to one's own believers. Peacebuilding processes in Nigeria can only be crowned with success if religious actors are involved. The target groups must be reached in various sectors of Nigerian society. The education and community sector, which plays an important role in this territorial state, must be mentioned here, especially in the regions that are reached only inadequately by the central government. One of the most suitable platforms is the Nigerian Inter Religious Council, in which representatives of the major religions meet to discuss Nigeria's national situation from a religious perspective. Peaceful coexistence in Nigeria is highly dependent on religious interaction and understanding.

Philipp Schröder

Marco Moerschbacher (missio Aachen)

The workshop began with a reflection on the ambivalence of religion, which can be both a peacemaker and peacekeeper, as well as a cause of violence. First, the various causes of violence were examined in general terms, whereby political motives, economic interests, ideological factors and external influences can play a role, both individually and in combination. Using the examples of the African countries of Tanzania, Côte d'Ivoire, Chad and Mali, the very different contexts for the relationship between religion and violence, religion, ethnicity and (weak) state, as well as the economic (arable farmers/cattle herders), political (geostrategic interests of France USA, China) and religious-ideological (fundamentalism) contexts were explained. With regard to the peacemaking role of religions, the central importance of interreligious dialogue and its elements (information, sensitization, statements, standards) and the role model function of religious leaders were then pointed out. The need for critical self-examination on the part of the religions and active non-violence as a formative force of conviviality crystallized in this context.

Dr. Michael Becker

Hubert Heindl (APTE)

Doing Peace: Peace activists from 30 African countries mobilize to use their field-tested skills of nonviolence and civil de-escalation to actively accompany local communities in their desire for peace and reconciliation on the ground over a period of several months. The workshop presents the genesis, the concept and the experiences of the INOVAR program, which is supported by the German development agency APTE. Since 2010, the program has been invited by local leaders as a counter-design to obsolete military "peace" missions: Women's and youth groups, priests and imams, mayors and police officers become local peacebuilders via the encouraging presence of the peace teams: empowered to counter the experience of violence with social resilience against destruction, division and revenge. In the open forum of the last half hour, the participants share their experiences of their own peace work and formulate hints and requirements for the further work of the program.

Hubert Heindl

Dr. Christiana Idika (IWM St. Georgen)

"Nigeria na war" is a common Nigerian phrase in everyday English and means something like "Nigeria is at war." Whether with other countries or in the family, whether in the city or in the countryside, every day people in Nigeria have to brace themselves for everyday war-like operations. Sr. Christiana simultaneously described Nigeria's dire situation analytically and emotionally, gripping participants, including a 10th grade class. The approach of the nun and theologian, who holds a doctorate, to overcoming the thoughts of war is a "unlearning", a "de-learning", of war among the youth. This must be followed by a national educational pact of all social groups involved in education. This is what she advocates.

Dr. Martin Stauch