Tanenbaum Center for Intrreligious Understanding
  
Peacemakers Old and New Gather Together

Friar Ivo Markovic and Iranian Ambassador to Bosnia Prof. Akbar Eydi (center) with new Peace- makers Azhar Hussein (l)
and Hind Kabawat (r).

Read about Tanenbaum staffers' experiences and impressions on our blog - or leave your own comments! 

Retreat in pictures: check out the photo galleries. 

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2007:  Sarajevo, Bosnia

Tanenbaum would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all those who helped to make possible the 2007 Peacemakers in Action Working Retreat, which was held October 21st though 26th in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Special thanks and credit go to Bosnian Peacemaker Friar Ivo Markovic and his interreligious NGO, Face to Face Interreligious Service (Oci u Oci), who were our partners in planning and running this international gathering.

Set in the inspiring multi-cultural city of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosniathe 2007 Working Retreat actualized two newly instituted facets of Peacemaker Retreats:

  • to convene in home countries of Peacemakers, contributing to the local community; and
  • to facilitate the training of Peacemakers by other Peacemakers.

Both decisions enrich Tanenbaum’s international presence and deepen the bonds between Peacemakers.

In addition to enlarging the network with 5 new members, the Working Retreat made a real impact in Sarajevo and the regional community.  Seventeen Peacemakers from conflict zones all over the world like Afghanistan, Colombia, Pakistan and Nigeria create a powerful presence. While there is no ‘one size fits all’, the Peacemakers know first-hand the struggles of armed- and post-conflict situations and were an inspiration to the Bosnian people they met and to readers and viewers who learned about their visit and their work. With characteristic warmth, compassion and charisma, the Peacemakers brought comfort and left behind challenging examples of perseverance.

New Women's Peace Initiative awardee with Peacemaker "Chencho" AlasThe Peacemakers also trained each other through intensive and interactive sessions on conflict resolution from an interreligious perspective; creating commitments to ceasefires; the role of religious leaders in environmental activism and sustainable development; how to include marginalized groups and women as peacemakers; and bringing indigenous religious rituals into peace work. 

Now in its third manifestation, the Peacemakers in Action Working Retreat has shown once again the importance and potential of bringing together an international group of religious peacemaker practitioners. With the breadth Najeeba Sirhan & "Chencho" Alas  and depth of connections made in Sarajevo, it’s clear                                                 that 2008 will be an exciting year for the growing,                                                     strengthening Peacemakers network.

 

Face to Face Interreligious Service is a non-governmental organization founded in 1996 in response to the widespread despair and ethno-religious hatred following the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Realizing that religions have the capacity to fuel conflict but also to contribute to its resolution, the organization works to emphasize and reinforce the aspects of religious tradition that are wholesome, peaceful, and life-affirming. It seeks to uncover common ground between traditions and encourages dialogue among religious communities by facilitating information exchanges and ecumenical cooperation.

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