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Twelfth Summer Peacebuilding Institute Opens at EMU

Participants declare in unity, "We are Peacebuilders!" at the opening session of the Summer Peacebuilding Institute. (The primary people on the photo are: front row, Jackie Sakho in purple and Laverne Baker Hotep in red; between them is Roxy Allen.
Photos by Jim Bishop

For the twelfth year, visitors from dozens of nations gathered on a May morning at EMU to begin sharing their efforts toward peace.

The 2007 Summer Peacebuilding Institute, a program of EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, opened May 7 with 82 enrollees from 34 nations. All have experience in peacebuilding, human rights and relief programs. Many are sponsored by their own organizations.

Living on campus during four sessions ending June 19, they will take workshops which CJP graduate student Marshall Yoder described as "very interactive. . .very participatory."

Coursework is enhanced by international meals, dances, games and networking as cross-cultural friendships grow.

'An Oasis' for Many

SPI Director Pat Hostetter Martin reflected that SPI learners come from "places of immense beauty and deep suffering." EMU President Loren Swartzendruber hoped SPI will be "a kind of oasis" for many.

The mood was upbeat as learners filed to a microphone to introduce themselves and share multilingual messages for peace.

Laxmikant, an Indian participant, contributed "Om, Shanti Shanti" (May there be peace). Antonio from Northern Virginia recited an acronym, "Positive Education Assures Constant Elevation." CJP professor Barry Hart – who will facilitate the workshop, "Peacebuilding in Traumatized Societies" - wished everyone "a cool heart," the translation of "peace" in some languages.

Orin F. "Skippy" Walters shared his native Jamaica’s greeting, "One Love." Walters, an advisor to August Town Peace Initiative, is attending SPI for his third year.

His organization’s work ranges from helping youth finish school to assisting home care for the elderly. Walters hopes to develop a program for toddlers.

Applause broke out when Mariam A. Jouda announced, "The Palestinian people dream of peace. I hope all of you can be in peace."

One of three Palestinians attending SPI, Jouda, from Gaza, is general director for the Culture and Free Thought Association, educating children and youth in "building practices of democracy."

Road to U.S. Difficult

Entering the U.S. was not easy for Jouda, who will study "Introduction to Conflict Transformation," "Trauma Awareness and Transformation," "Practice: Skills for Conflict Transformation" and "Civic Engagement and Public Decision Making."

She hopes not only to gain "new information and knowledge" but "to speak about the difficulty" of people in her homeland – "how the children suffer, and the women."

Father Kirellos Gendy from Egypt attaches his name to a "quilt hanging" on the wall in Martin Chapel as part of an exercise to illustrate the rich diversity of people and cultures represented at the 2007 Summer Peacebuilding Institute at EMU.
Photos by Jim Bishop

CJP graduate Rhoda Kraus characterized a display of traditional quilts as symbolizing diverse individuals forming communities. SPI learners made a paper quilt, pressing varicolored pieces bearing their names to a sticking board.

Their homes included Pittsburgh, Uganda, Wisconsin, Jordan, Ontario, Kenya, Switzerland, the Philippines, Australia, Liberia, Haiti, Seattle, Kosovo, Burma, Nigeria, Belfast, New York City, Warrenton, Va., Washington, D.C., Egypt, Indonesia, Burundi, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Croatia, Syria, Lebanon (the nation) . . . and Lebanon, Pa.

Iranians Unable to Attend

Though several Iranians had applied for the current SPI, none arrived for the opening. While application numbers remain high, Martin noted SPI attendance has recently dropped due to difficulties obtaining both visas and funding. (A "Sponsors of Peacebuilders" program may be accessed through www.emu.edu/spi.)

Jacqueline LaVern Roebuck Sakho, of Memphis, an outreach coordinator in Tennessee’s criminal justice system, is developing a re-entry program for former prisoners. "Bridging the problems will curb recidivism," Sakho said, heading for CJP co-director Howard Zehr’s Restorative Justice workshop.

Jeremy Paul Kovacevich of Santa Barbara, Cal., hopes SPI studies will aid him in preparing to help former child soldiers in Liberia re-enter their communities. At 23, he hopes his youth will give him common ground with them.

"It’s my first venture into the peacebuilding field, and I’m trying to see where I fit," says Kovacevich, of the California-based organization, Everyday Gandhis.

An SPI highlight this year will be a "Hope for Peace" Day on May 19, featuring workshops, dialogues and international entertainment; www.emu.edu/cjp/hopeforpeace.

Chris Edwards is a free-lance writer from Harrisonburg.

— article by: Chris Edwards; posted May 9, 2007