Nurturing Hope in Nonviolent Peacebuilding
despite challenges, there are many reasons to have hope that the efforts of global peacebuilders will effectively reduce violence in our lifetimes.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity to support one another and explore how we might embody nonviolence in our work, rest, play, service, relationships. My hopes are being fulfilled, and I’m looking forward to more!”
“When we’re together, there’s so much reason for hope.”
“I am learning so much from the beauty of heart and compassion of each person in the group. The vulnerability of everyone is truly humbling, and in my context where strength is the only thing that is celebrated, I find it a breath of fresh air.”
Hope is a powerful force. Coupled with a high view of humanity, It can give us the strength to persevere and inspire us to work towards a nonviolent future.
When faced with violence and conflict, we struggle to sustain hope. But despite the challenges, there are many reasons to have hope that the efforts of global peacebuilders will effectively reduce violence in our lifetimes.
Nonviolent Peacebuilding Works
First, it is important to recognize the progress that peacebuilders have already made in reducing violence around the world. Over the past decades, the number of armed conflicts has significantly decreased, and will likely continue to do so.
When conflicts occur, peacebuilders work to facilitate dialogue and negotiation. They help the parties involved understand each other’s perspectives and to find common ground, so they might achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict. This is a difficult and complex process, but when it is successful, it can lay the groundwork for lasting peace.
And these processes have been successful, preventing the escalation of violence through nonviolent means. Around the world, peacebuilders successfully identify potential sources of conflict and take steps to prevent them from escalating into violence. They may work with local communities to address grievances and build trust, or they may support economic development programs to reduce poverty and inequality, which are key drivers of violence.
Peacebuilders also work to build the capacities of their local communities to prevent and resolve conflicts on their own. They often train community leaders in conflict resolution and mediation, or support the development of local peace committees and other grassroots organizations, which are key to a region’s durable peace.
By empowering local communities to take the lead, peacebuilders help create a culture of peace that is more resilient to violence.
By promoting the rights of others and the interdependence of our communities, by defending others against violence and injustice while holding out hope that persecutors can change, we make our own contributions to building a more peaceful world.
A Growing Sense of Hope
All of this progress results from dedicated peacebuilders who work tirelessly to address the root causes of violence and to promote peaceful resolutions of conflicts.
Of course, the work of peacebuilders is not without its challenges. Peacebuilders encounter obstacles such as lack of resources or political instability, leading the very people they’re trying to help to distrust them. They also face more direct resistance from those who benefit from violence and conflict. But despite these challenges, nonviolent peacebuilding has been effective, and we have every reason to believe that it will continue to reduce violence in our lifetimes.
We can sustain this hope because peacebuilding is a constantly evolving field. As peacebuilders gain more experience and learn from their successes and failures, they develop more effective strategies and approaches designed for their unique situations and contexts. New technologies provide new data that helps peacebuilders better understand drivers of violence and to identify potential hotspots of conflict. By leveraging these new tools and techniques, peacebuilders become more effective at reducing violence.
We can also find hope in the growing recognition of the role peacebuilding plays in promoting stability and security around the world. Though change comes slowly, governments, international organizations, and civil groups are increasing their support of nonviolent peacebuilding. With this support, peacebuilders can access the resources and expertise they need to be effective in their work.
Finally, it is important to remember that peacebuilding is not just the work of professional peacebuilders. Every one of us has a role to play in building a more peaceful world. By promoting the rights of others and the interdependence of our communities, by defending others against violence and injustice while holding out hope that persecutors can change, we make our own contributions to building a more peaceful world.
Funding Hope
Of course, one of the most needed contributions in peacebuilding is financial support. If you are in a position to donate to unRival, you have the unique opportunity to support the work of nonviolent peacebuilders who are working tirelessly to create a more just and peaceful world. By financially supporting the development of their leadership, you can uplift their important work and help them make an even greater impact on their communities.
Your contributions nurture the hope of those doing hard work in conflicted places, where they work with local stakeholders to identify and address specific needs and challenges. The data shows their approaches are only becoming more effective the more we learn together. The Artisans of Peace we connect through our network further empower individuals to take ownership of their own peace and development. But while these regions remain violent and conflicted, peacebuilders need your support to sustain their hope and continue the processes that we know will bear fruit.
Research also shows that nonviolent peacebuilding is one of the most cost-effective interventions in conflict. UnRival is looking to amplify this return even more through our programming, multiplying the investments of our donors as they support peacebuilding leaders around the world.
But the most compelling reason to support nonviolent peacebuilders is that their work is essential for building a more just and peaceful world. In a world increasingly marked by violence and conflict, we need individuals and organizations dedicated to building peace in a nonviolent way.
Our donors support and empower nonviolent peacebuilders as they work to address conflicts and build strong, resilient communities. By providing resources and support, you can help create spaces of trust, creativity, collaboration, and non-rivalry where artists, activists, and academics can come together to find peaceful solutions to complex problems.
In doing so, you can help create a more peaceful and just world, while also making a wise investment in a proven and cost-effective approach to peacebuilding. We invite you to join us in supporting nonviolent peacebuilders and creating a brighter future for us all.
There is hope in these divided and difficult times.
The world's peace builders desperately need spaces of trust, curiosity, and collaboration. Meet the need by supporting gatherings that nurture hope and inspire creative solutions to the world's toughest problems.
Join us to transform communities plagued by violence and rivalry.
