Thirty-five staff members and partners from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in 25 different nations attended the 2002 Summer Institute in Peacebuilding, held from June 23 to July 4 at the Kroc Institute.

SIP was founded and piloted in 2001 to strengthen peacebuilding skills of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) personnel who work in developing regions that are frequently conflict zones. At the institute, participants explore crucial issues such as the role of religion in conflict and peacebuilding, and strategies for delivering aid in conflict situations. Typically, CRS staff members provide relief in emergency situations and work to break the cycle of poverty through initiatives such as community banks, health education and clean water projects. This year's SIP participants came from Madagascar, Cameroon, Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Pakistan, India, East Timor, Indonesia, Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Colombia. The participants included country representatives, program managers and technical advisors for CRS, which now has 2,800 employees worldwide. Also attending were two Catholic church officials from Haiti.

The summer institute was designed with three basic goals in mind. SIP trains participants in conflict resolution, deepens their understanding of Catholic social teaching and alerts them to new issues in economic development.

The first seven days of the 2002 institute focused on peacebuilding concepts and skills. John Paul Lederach, Professor of International Peacebuilding at the Kroc Institute, presented the fundamental framework and prin-ciples of peacebuilding. He described peacebuilding tools and their use in various settings. Using case studies and anecdotes about peacebuilding, Lederach also employed a variety of engaging, interactive exercises to help participants experience the impact of reconciliation methodolo-gies and tools. Lederach also led a workshop on creative arts as a peacebuilding tool.

Four shorter half-day presentations about the religious dimensions of peacebuilding complemented Lederach's 5-day "core course." Andrea Bartoli of the Community of St. Egidio, an international Catholic community, talked about his community's peacebuilding intervention in Mozambique in the early 1990s. Kroc Fellow Todd Whitmore, Associate Professor of Theology at Notre Dame, discussed Just War Theory and Catholic Social Teaching. Kroc Institute Director Scott Appleby explored religion as an inspiration for both violence and peace. Rashied Omar, Coordinator for Kroc's RIREC and PRCP programs, discussed peacebuilding as an interreligious effort. A popular new feature at the 2002 SIP was the "Peacebuilding Marketplace," which allowed participants to trade peacebuilding ideas, lessons and tools.

During the last two days of the institute, participants examined peacebuilding programs within CRS. Participants also critiqued and reviewed a draft document entitled "CRS Approach to Peacebuilding: Guidelines for CRS Staffers and Partners," which is being developed to help guide future CRS peacebuilding efforts.

SIP is a joint effort of the Kroc Institute and CRS, an agency founded by the American Catholic Bishops in 1943 to resettle European refugees. SIP was co-directed again this year by Jaco Cilliers, CRS Technical Advisor for Peacebuilding, and George Lopez, the Kroc Institute's Director of Policy Studies.

After just two summers, the program has proven to be mutually beneficial for CRS and the Kroc Institute. The SIP provides opportunities for CRS workers to develop peacebuilding skills and enlarge their global support network, while also giving Kroc Institute faculty and staff a deeper understanding of peacebuilding issues emerging in the field.

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Home > Publications > Peace Colloquy > Issue 2 (Fall 2002)