ACT 2005 Work

Holiday Greetings, Summary of ACT's work in 2005, & Please Consider Supporting our Work for 2006

Dear Friends of ACT,

As the year comes to a close, we wish to thank you for your ongoing support and interest in the Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT). This year was an exciting and productive one for ACT. We expanded our conflict transformation programs and services to new international and domestic locations and partners, and our newly revised Jobs and Scholarship Forums remains the premier on-line resource for students and professionals interested in opportunities in international conflict resolution, peace-building, and related fields.

We invite you to help ACT build peace around the world through innovative research and practice with a tax-free donation to support our noteworthy program areas:

ACT’s Education and Field Development programs help build support for conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and related fields working to develop the next generation of peacebuilders.

Ongoing projects include: teaching and mentoring students and young professionals interested in working in international conflict situations; sponsoring the ACT Forums; and designing and implementing a new Summer Institute on Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution in Bolivia.

Highlights:

The ACT Forums provide invaluable information about resources, jobs, funding and other opportunities around the world. Through donations like yours, we are able to provide these services for free or reduced fees to people and organizations in economically developing countries. “The ACT Forums has really been beneficial to me and to my organization back in Kenya. I have been able to get sponsors for human rights projects that we are currently undertaking back in Kenya. So, I thank all the crew members for the invaluable service that you are giving.” - Issack Otieno, Human Rights Activist from Kenya

“There is no doubt that your website has been one of the best in the provision of valuable resources to many users across the globe since its inception. In particular, those of us from developing nations who use this Forum free will forever remain grateful. To me this is pure service to humanity.” - Mohammed Bougei Attah, Executive Director, NGO Guide 2000, Nigeria

The Institute on Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) provides students and young professionals with much needed practical skills and field experience in a conflict setting. Through donations, we are able to provide scholarships to enable a greater diversity of people to participate in this and other training programs.

“In addition to gaining a basic understanding of conflict analysis and a set of practical skills applicable to a variety of fields, I truly benefited from having access to real-world practitioners and the exposure to an insider’s view of regional conflicts. IPCR is practical, hands-on, and highly recommended for anyone interested in pursuing a professional career in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, or related fields.” - Michael Pankow, Human Rights Watch

ACT’s Training and Intervention Services build individual and organizational capacities while helping transform ongoing conflicts into new opportunities for growth and change.

Ongoing projects include: teaching conflict resolution and peacebuilding skills to Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot youth, Georgian and Abkhazian youth, and at-risk U.S. youth; developing cooperative problem solving and peer mediation programs in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Indonesia; teaching constructive dialogue techniques to Kazak religious and civic leaders; facilitating multi-party problem solving processes for the Massachusetts Juvenile Court in Hampshire/Franklin Counties; and supporting peacebuilding NGOs in Bolivia.

Highlights:

Bringing youth and adults together across conflict divides for training, dialogue and problem-solving is an effective and transformative tool for peacebuilding and developing future leaders. Our recent Pro-Active Leadership (PAL) Program for Thirty-two Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Junior-Level High School Students is one example of the power of joint programs. “The things I learned during my time in Amherst as well as all of the experiences I had, helped me see things from a different point of view. My experiences here helped me understand that if you really want to, you can achieve a lot in life. I will try to use all that I learned during the PAL program to guide my future experiences after I return to Cyprus.” – Cypriot Student

ACT is advising NGOs in Bolivia to support their work in addressing multiple conflicts. Bolivia is facing deep divisions across ethnic, economic and geographic boundaries. Having overthrown its two most recent presidents through popular protest, some fear that Bolivia could degenerate into civil war unless new leaders, visions, and peacebuilding approaches take root. During the IPCR program in summer 2006, ACT met with the former Minister of Sustainable Development and other local business, NGO and indigenous leaders to discuss potential approaches to addressing Bolivia’s conflicts. Today, Bolivian students from the IPCR program are working directly with national and international organizations to implement recommendations developed during our course. Donations to ACT enabled these young professionals to participate in the IPCR program for free and develop their capacity to help build peace and prevent violence in Bolivia.

ACT’s Research and Evaluation Services are the keys to ongoing reflection, individual and organizational growth, program improvement, measuring program impact and adding to the body of knowledge in the field.

Ongoing Projects included: program monitoring and evaluation of the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program; researching graduate education, professional practice, and careers in international conflict related fields; conducting conflict management and mitigation organizational capacity assessments for several private clients.

Highlights:

ACT recently published a new report: "Skills, Networks & Knowledge: Developing a Career in International Peace and Conflict Resolution.” This report helps to fill a critical gap in the field, as it is the first of its kind to survey employers regarding career opportunities within international peace and conflict resolution. The research was conducted with support from the Alliance for International Conflict Prevention and Resolution and your donations. To download or order the report, go to the publications section.

Your Donation Will Help Support Vital Programming

ACT’s efforts to help transform social conflicts into more peaceful opportunities for change have reached educators, youth, community leaders, and government officials in the Middle East, Europe, the Caucuses, Latin America, South America, and Asia, as well as in the United States. Our innovative programming is based upon our belief that conflict is an inseparable part of human interaction and when addressed constructively it can lead to peaceful and positive change.

Since 1999, we have worked with over 3,500 youth and adults to teach them conflict transformation skills and processes as well as the underlying principles of participation, inclusion, empowerment, respect for diversity and differences, and social responsibility. We have worked with parties across conflict lines and have sought to build individual and organizational capacities to peacefully resolve misunderstandings and conflicts while helping build relationships among adversaries. There is still much work to be done in the world to alleviate the suffering and pain caused by violent conflict, and our hope is that ACT and other conflict transformation and peacebuilding organizations can make a significant contribution to reducing violence and promoting more peaceful responses to social conflict.

Our future projects and ability to bring innovative programming to people and organizations around the world depend on the generosity of individuals and organizations for financial support. We invite you to help ACT continue our efforts to build a more sustainable peace in the world.

Your contribution is 100% tax deductible. You may donate online at our secure website or send your donation to:

Alliance for Conflict Transformation

P.O. Box 9117

Alexandria, VA 22304

Thank you in advance for your assistance in furthering peacebuilding. We wish you peace and joy in this holiday season and the coming year.

In Peace,

Nike Carstarphen

Senior Partner, ACT