(Photo: Karen Elliott Greisdorf)

The Washington Program offers forums, public events, documentary film screenings, receptions and conferences as keys to building trust and understanding across the divides of politics, religion, race and nationality. This outreach to people in government, think tanks, media and the international community promotes the role of apology and forgiveness in the reconciliation process. It demonstrates the transformative power of individual change in conflict situations. The goal is to model and encourage active listening, quiet reflection and honest conversation – the hallmarks of IofC’s peacebuilding approach.

Currently, wide use of the film The Imam and the Pastor about two Nigerian peacemakers, and the follow-on film An African Answer, is challenging people’s thinking about the power of reconciliation and forgiveness and the importance of inter-faith dialogue. Read the report of the US launch of An African Answer, sponsored by the US Institute for Peace.

In addition to sponsoring programs in Washington, IofC-USA joins with Initiatives of Change International in addressing the root causes of human insecurity – socio-economic challenges, armed conflict, wounded memories, environmental degradation, and religious and cultural differences.

IofC-USA is involved in developing and facilitating two programs associated with the International Conference in Caux, Switzerland.

• The Caux Forum for Human Security – an initiative of Ambassador Mohamed Sahnoun, a distinguished diplomat and mediator who served as senior advisor to former Secretary General Kofi Annan. Ambassador Sahnoun believes that solutions to the challenges we face will depend on finding unprecedented levels of trust and collaboration across boundaries of sector, nation, culture, party, privilege, regional antagonism and historic memory.
• Caux Scholars Program - a month-long international academic program of applied studies in peacebuilding and conflict transformation for young adults who want to be a positive, healing influence in their own personal, professional and political circles. The course examines the personal, religious, social and cultural factors which create and sustain conflict and the role individuals can play in peacemaking. More than 300 students from 85 countries have participated in the program since 1991. They are active around the world with UN peacekeeping missions, governments, NGO’s addressing refugee, immigrant, conflict resolution, and environmental issues.