International Projects and Training

Strategies on Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) seminars

• ManoRiverUnion in West Africa (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea) STAR Initiative:
  A regionally-based long-three-year program began in the Mano River Union in 2004 in collaboration with the national Christian and Inter-Religious Councils of the three countries. Local Christian Council staff have provided ongoing mentoring and assistance to participants as they work at introducing STAR-based activities into their organizations and communities. This initiative was f unded by Church World Service (CWS.)
• Liberia:
  Held in collaboration with the Liberian Christian Council in March 2004. 
• Guinea:
  Held in collaboration with the Guinea Christian Council in January 2005 
• Sudan:  
• Two STAR workshops were held in 2005 in collaboration with New Sudan Council of Churches; 1 with Catholic Relief Services (CRS); funded by CWS, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), and Danish Church Aid)
• In 2006, a follow-up workshop was held demonstrating the need for building a base for on-site trauma healing workers.
• In January, 2007, CRS Sudan organized an event together with SSPC (Southern Sudan Peace Commission.)  Participants included  16 representing ministries of the GoSS, 3 Catholic leaders and 3 CRS staff.  The three “R’s” of the STAR seminar (ritual, restorative practices and resilience) provided interesting discussion as well as affirmation for many cultural practices.   As one person said, "the most rewarding moments were the moments of discussion in groups which gave me a chance to explore my riches." 
• Central and South America:
  Participants  from Nicaragua , El Salvador, Guatemala and South America attended a STAR training in El Salvador in September, 2005 (funding by MCC.) In November 2005, STAR leaders returned to Central America for a follow-up visit and heard that there continues to be a great need for collective trauma healing, care for the caregivers and for building a culture of peace.
• Nicaragua:
  another STAR workshop was conducted in 2006 sponsored by the Ministerio de Restauracion of Nicargua.  Participants included ex-Sandinista and Contra soldiers as well as church leaders and NGO workers.
• Colombia:
  STAR held its first workshop in Colombia in November, 2002, for 40 church leaders. A STAR training was held in Medellin, Colombia on December 4-8, 2006 for 21 pastors and church leaders from 12 denominations. 
• Bolivia:
  (February 19-23, 2007 and April 16-20 2007 )  MCC workers and STAR trainers led two week-long workshops  (20 in each one) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia for pastors, educators, psychologists and social workers.  The majority were Catholic and Protestant leaders.  “Seeing these two groups interact, eat together and embrace each other made it all worthwhile” say the workshop leaders.  
• Kenya
• Uganda (in collaboration with MCC)
• United Kingdom:
  (in collaboration with London Mennonite Centre)
• Burundi:
  (in collaboration with and funded by Africa Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries (ALARM)

Youth STAR

Youth STAR workshops have been offered in (funded by CWS and United States Institute of Peace)

• Kenya
• Croatia
• Sierra Leone
• Palestine
• Columbia

Leaders in Peace-building Program

A nine-month program began in Sudan in 2007 to train 30 local leaders.  In collaboration with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), this comprehensive program includes six workshops focusing on trauma and resilience, restorative justice, conflict transformation and leadership. Between the workshop sessions, participants work in small groups implementing their new knowledge and skills in organization or community-level projects. Following the successful completion of all six workshops and projects, participants will be designated as “Leaders in Peacebuilding” (funded by CRS).

Other International Seminars and Consulting

• Lebanon:
  Two conflict transformation workshops have been facilitated for Lebanon American University. (funded by LAU and MCC)
• Iraq:
  A development and conflict workshop was provided for NGO workers in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.
• Jordan:
  Two conflict transformation workshops and a “healthy organization” workshop for church leaders was held. (funded by MCC)
• Egypt:
  Two “healthy organization” workshops were held for church leaders. (funded by MCC)
• Niger and Chad  2007:
  Assessment of effectiveness of a pilot project of development aid as long-term counter-terrorism tool (in collaboration with Social Impact; funded by USAID)
• Rwanda 2007:
  Conflict analysis of land-related issues. (in collaboration with ARD; funded by USAID)