Peacebuilding

A discussion on peacebuilding and psychosocial support for communities with local religious leaders in Kathmandu, Nepal.Religious leaders and traditional community elders are found even in places where government facilities are scarce. They are embedded in the communities and they know the local history; the relationships between different subgroups within the crisis-affected areas; and the particular struggles for individuals and families who are facing new challenges in crises situations. Unlike other actors, religious leaders draw on the trust and moral authority invested in them by their communities, to mobilize intangible spiritual and material resources to support social and economic reconstruction processes. They constitute a resource which can be useful in emergencies for helping their community to move forward in a way that is meaningful culturally within their religious traditions. Therefore, this program offers tailored training to enhance their skills in the key areas that allow them to work effectively with their communities as well as interfacing smoothly with the relief and development professionals. The program has been implemented in five countries in collaboration with local religious communities and institutions of higher learning that support the training activities.