Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center receives World Vision International Peacebuilding Prize
If ever there was an ideal to celebrate, peace would be it. In celebration of today’s International Day of Peace, Wi’am the Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center has been the single organisational recipient of the second annual World Vision International Peace building Award. This award recognises and honours the individuals and organisations that have worked and continue to work ceaselessly for the promotion of peace, for their countries and within their communities.Wi’am is an organisation focused on conflict resolution and peacemaking within the auspices of development and advocacy. It focuses on children and women and provides opportunities for empowerment, human rights dialogue, education, vocational training, counseling, and cross-cultural exchanges, civic activism, and training workshops on non-violence and conflict resolution for vulnerable groups in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
..we have found that conflict transformation is the art of working and sharing ourselves, our resources, our minds, and our hearts with othersWi’am works locally to promote peace and reconciliation in addition to participating with international organisations and raising awareness on the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
The Wi’am Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center opened in March 1995. World Vision was one of the three founding partners for Wi’am. World Vision continues to support Wi’am in various capacities. ‘Wi’am’ means ‘cordial relationships’, in Arabic and the development of these is at the heart of Wi’am’s mission. The Center helps to resolve disputes within the Palestinian community by implementing the traditional Arab form of mediation, known as “sulha”, as well as Western models of conflict resolution. Working in the West Bank, 70% of which remains under Israeli military occupation, Wi’am continues to advocate for peace by teaching the standards of ‘sumud’ or steadfastness. With its logo symbolising the hands clasped together in the act and spirit of reconciliation, with the star of Bethlehem above it and rays of light representing the enlightenment of peaceful conflict resolution, Wi’am is a symbol of hope for many.
The Peace Building Award Ceremony, attended by more than 200 people, was held in the garden of the Wi’am Center in Bethlehem, next to a playground built by Wi’am, where children played during the ceremony. An eight metre high concrete wall, part of the separation barrier, overshadowed the playground and the event. In contrast, talk of peace, the hope for a new future, and chords of the Wi’am Women’s Group singing “We Shall Overcome” filled the air.
Speaking about the celebration of the Day of Peace, World Vision International’s Director of Peacebuilding, Matthew Scott, said, "World Vision is engaged in humanitarian assistance and development work in some of the most difficult and turbulent places in the world. We know that it is vital for our staff to understand the context and especially to understand the dynamics where there is either latent or manifest conflict. Over the last ten years World Vision has developed tools and staff capacity to ensure that our programmes will make positive contributions to peaceful and just communities and to avoid even unintentionally causing harm”.
Scott continued, “We know that destructive conflict is one of the greatest threats to development and building durable peace is the road to sustainable development. World Vision is a witness that thousands of community members and hundreds of agencies around the world every year make huge contributions toward peace without being recognised by the world community. They are the unseen heroes for peace. World Vision has chosen to recognise one person and one agency each year as recipients of the World Vision International Peace Prize, given on the International Day of Peace. We are eager to learn from these recipients. We are inspired by their acts. And we are humbled that we can help shine a light on their courageous work."
Upon winning the World Vision International Peace Building Prize, Founder and Director of Wi’am, Zoughbi Zoughbi, said, “Our work at Wi’am is the epitome of agape where commitment, perseverance and sharing with others on all levels is at its utmost; we have found that conflict transformation is the art of working and sharing ourselves, our resources, our minds, and our hearts with others. World Vision International’s award is like holy water that re-baptises our work and commitment....”
Living under occupation for more than sixty years, the lives of everyday Palestinians is a constant struggle. The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 resulted in the deaths of both Israelis and Palestinians and the displacement of more than 800,000 Palestinians–a number that has grown to 4.7 million– the largest refugee population in the world. Since 1967, the occupation of Palestinian lands has been a dark cloud over the lives of the Palestinians, who face daily human rights violations, including restrictions on their freedom of movement, economic repression, checkpoints and barriers, and most notably, the separation barrier, effectively surrounding the entire West Bank, cutting people off from their land, water, livelihoods and often times, their families. It is the hopelessness created by the occupation that makes Wi’am’s work more important than ever.
We are eager to learn from these recipients. We are inspired by their acts. And we are humbled that we can help shine a light on their courageous workThe impact that Wi’am is having on the communities in which they work is becoming more and more apparent as their work continues. The life of one child; 17-year-old Adel was forever changed by Wi’am. “I have known the meaning of life after I felt the warm care from Wi’am community. My life has changed and it has a meaning, and it is promising. Let me encourage more kids and young people to join Wi’am activities. Wi’am is a place to celebrate life and inject hope!”
Wi’am is patiently building peace one brick at a time in an area teeming with conflict that is desperate for any glimmer of hope to cling to. World Vision encourages Wi’am, other organisations, and the entire peace building community to engage in efforts of peace making locally, regionally, and globally, so that one day, all the bricks gathered can build a world house of peace.
For more information about Wi’am and its work, visit www.alaslah.org/
..we have found that conflict transformation is the art of working and sharing ourselves, our resources, our minds, and our hearts with othersWi’am works locally to promote peace and reconciliation in addition to participating with international organisations and raising awareness on the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
The Wi’am Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center opened in March 1995. World Vision was one of the three founding partners for Wi’am. World Vision continues to support Wi’am in various capacities. ‘Wi’am’ means ‘cordial relationships’, in Arabic and the development of these is at the heart of Wi’am’s mission. The Center helps to resolve disputes within the Palestinian community by implementing the traditional Arab form of mediation, known as “sulha”, as well as Western models of conflict resolution. Working in the West Bank, 70% of which remains under Israeli military occupation, Wi’am continues to advocate for peace by teaching the standards of ‘sumud’ or steadfastness. With its logo symbolising the hands clasped together in the act and spirit of reconciliation, with the star of Bethlehem above it and rays of light representing the enlightenment of peaceful conflict resolution, Wi’am is a symbol of hope for many.
The Peace Building Award Ceremony, attended by more than 200 people, was held in the garden of the Wi’am Center in Bethlehem, next to a playground built by Wi’am, where children played during the ceremony. An eight metre high concrete wall, part of the separation barrier, overshadowed the playground and the event. In contrast, talk of peace, the hope for a new future, and chords of the Wi’am Women’s Group singing “We Shall Overcome” filled the air.
Speaking about the celebration of the Day of Peace, World Vision International’s Director of Peacebuilding, Matthew Scott, said, "World Vision is engaged in humanitarian assistance and development work in some of the most difficult and turbulent places in the world. We know that it is vital for our staff to understand the context and especially to understand the dynamics where there is either latent or manifest conflict. Over the last ten years World Vision has developed tools and staff capacity to ensure that our programmes will make positive contributions to peaceful and just communities and to avoid even unintentionally causing harm”.
Scott continued, “We know that destructive conflict is one of the greatest threats to development and building durable peace is the road to sustainable development. World Vision is a witness that thousands of community members and hundreds of agencies around the world every year make huge contributions toward peace without being recognised by the world community. They are the unseen heroes for peace. World Vision has chosen to recognise one person and one agency each year as recipients of the World Vision International Peace Prize, given on the International Day of Peace. We are eager to learn from these recipients. We are inspired by their acts. And we are humbled that we can help shine a light on their courageous work."
Upon winning the World Vision International Peace Building Prize, Founder and Director of Wi’am, Zoughbi Zoughbi, said, “Our work at Wi’am is the epitome of agape where commitment, perseverance and sharing with others on all levels is at its utmost; we have found that conflict transformation is the art of working and sharing ourselves, our resources, our minds, and our hearts with others. World Vision International’s award is like holy water that re-baptises our work and commitment....”
Living under occupation for more than sixty years, the lives of everyday Palestinians is a constant struggle. The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 resulted in the deaths of both Israelis and Palestinians and the displacement of more than 800,000 Palestinians–a number that has grown to 4.7 million– the largest refugee population in the world. Since 1967, the occupation of Palestinian lands has been a dark cloud over the lives of the Palestinians, who face daily human rights violations, including restrictions on their freedom of movement, economic repression, checkpoints and barriers, and most notably, the separation barrier, effectively surrounding the entire West Bank, cutting people off from their land, water, livelihoods and often times, their families. It is the hopelessness created by the occupation that makes Wi’am’s work more important than ever.
We are eager to learn from these recipients. We are inspired by their acts. And we are humbled that we can help shine a light on their courageous workThe impact that Wi’am is having on the communities in which they work is becoming more and more apparent as their work continues. The life of one child; 17-year-old Adel was forever changed by Wi’am. “I have known the meaning of life after I felt the warm care from Wi’am community. My life has changed and it has a meaning, and it is promising. Let me encourage more kids and young people to join Wi’am activities. Wi’am is a place to celebrate life and inject hope!”
Wi’am is patiently building peace one brick at a time in an area teeming with conflict that is desperate for any glimmer of hope to cling to. World Vision encourages Wi’am, other organisations, and the entire peace building community to engage in efforts of peace making locally, regionally, and globally, so that one day, all the bricks gathered can build a world house of peace.
For more information about Wi’am and its work, visit www.alaslah.org/
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