Kroc-Catholic Relief Services Fellowships
Alexandra Medina
Since 2006, the Kroc Institute and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have sponsored fellowships for experienced peacebuilders. The fellowships allow CRS staff to conduct research in a university setting, while also bringing insights to bear on Kroc’s academic programs. Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community, provides assistance to people in more than 100 countries.
Past and present Kroc-CRS Fellows:
2024
Spring 2024: The Kroc Institute welcomed two CRS fellows: Henri Muhiya (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Ivonne Solorzano (Guatemala). Muhiya furthered his research on whether the control of natural resources is the main source of water and violent conflict in the DRC as part of his doctoral studies. Solorzano worked on the promotion and defense of human dignity as the center for the construction of peace and the role of the Catholic Church in promoting and safeguarding that dignity.
2022
Spring 2022: Alexandra Tañada Medina (Philippines) engaged with the Peace Accords Matrix to support the development of a civil society-led peace accord monitoring system for Mindanao.
2019
Fall 2019: Abba Hagos Hayish Fessuh, C.M. (Ethiopa) focused on the role of religious leaders in building and sustaining peace in Ethiopia
Spring 2019: Valarie "Vat" Kamatsiko (Africa) focused on the concept of vertical social cohesion in Catholic Relief Services' Binding, Bonding, Bridging (or 3Bs) methodology.
2017
Orson Sargado (Philippines) studied how to maximize gains from peace governance work by empowering local governance groups and civil society organizations to conduct responsible and just natural resource management.
2015
Aliba Emmanuel Kiiza (Uganda) conducted research on theories of reconciliation and healing.
2014
Sylvestre Kimbese (Democratic Republic of the Congo) conducted a comparative study of peacebuilding efforts led by Catholic bishops in six African countries.
2013
Hippolyt Pul (Ghana) examined whether transitional justice practices contribute to sustainable peace in post-conflict communities.
John Ashworth (Kenya) worked on a book summarizing lessons learned during a pivotal time of conflict and peacebuilding in Sudan, focusing on culture, religion, conflict, aid and development.
2012
Bishop Colin Bagaforo (Mindanao, the Philippines) focused on research, reflection, and writing on interreligious peacebuilding in the Philippines.
2011
John Katunga (Kenya) conducted research on Catholic peacebuilding, drawing on his professional experiences collaborating with Catholic bishops and other religious leaders in Eastern Africa.
2010
Rick Jones (El Salvador) explored how to integrate peacebuilding into development programs in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Joseph Muyango (Rwanda) researched peacebuilding strategies and the role of reconciliation in post-genocide Rwanda.
2009
Ameth Diouf (Senegal) researched the use of traditional conflict early warning systems in West Africa and the role of women in peacebuilding. He also contributed data on Liberia and Sierra Leone to the Kroc Institute’s Peace Accords Matrix.
Jean Baptiste Talla (Cameroon) conducted research on the Catholic Church’s role in conflict prevention and transformation in Central Africa.
2008
Fr. Emmanuel Ntakarutimana (Burundi) conducted research with the Catholic Peacebuilding Network on transitional justice and the role of the Catholic Church in Burundi.
2007
Polikarpus Teku (Indonesia) conducted research on the integration of peacebuilding with traditional approaches to agricultural development.
2006
Myla Leguro (Mindanao, the Philippines) documented a decade of experience in peacebuilding with Catholic Relief Services in Mindanao.
For more information about the program, contact Gerard Powers.