Peacebuilding Institute unites practitioners, students in common goal

BY ADRIENNE FRANK

After attending the summer 2004 Peacebuilding and Development Institute, Victoria Namusisi of Uganda founded Row Hills International, a home for children orphaned by tribal violence. Still, she wanted to do more.

“There are still children suffering,” said Namusisi, who’s rescued more than 90 youngsters. “I still ask myself, ‘What can I do?’”

Namusisi said she returned to this summer’s institute for answers.

“I might be thinking the formula I have is the best, but then I meet others here with different formulas who arrive at the same solution,” she said. “I don’t care what formula I use; what I want is peace.”

Namusisi is one of more than 200 students and practitioners from around the world who have flocked to AU for the three-week summer program, which runs through July 15. Hailing from 24 countries, including such conflict-ridden areas as Nepal, Colombia, Kosovo, and Bosnia, the participants attend lectures on media and peacebuilding concepts, arts approaches to peacebuilding, and religion and culture in conflict resolution. Classes are led by academics, including several AU professors, who have worked abroad in the field.

Participants, who include students from AU’s School of International Service (SIS), also attend grant-writing workshops, movie screenings, and networking events throughout Washington, D.C. This summer, they also participated in a small ceremony commemorating the six-month anniversary of the tsunami.

“There’s good training going on, but there’s also lots of community building going on,” said Saji Prelis, director of the institute, which was started in 2001 by SIS professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer. “People are coming here to enhance their skills, but they’re also building lasting friendships.”

Jainarine Deonanth, with the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting in Guyana, said the institute “has been a life-changing experience.”

“I took three weeks off from work to be here, and I don’t regret it for a minute. I’ve learned so much from the other students, just sharing our experiences.”

Namusisi agreed. She said some of the participants have volunteered to pay for school expenses for her children, while others plan to travel to Uganda to work at the orphanage.

“The people I’ve met here have become like brother and sister.”

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