Myanmar Interfaith Youth Peace Awareness Program pilot project sponsored by KAICIID

The Peaceful Myanmar Initiative (PMI) in collaboration with the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) launched a pilot project titled “Interfaith Youth Peace Awareness” through a dialogue training from 28 to 31 January at the Kayin Baptist Convention Rural Mission Development Center in Hmawbi Township outside of Yangon. The training was moderated by experienced Buddhist and Muslim religious leaders, and was attended by 25 Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim youth representing 12 organizations. The 12 female and 13 male participants discussed conflict, incitement to violence and the basic principles of dialogue.

This training is part of an interreligious awareness campaign focusing on selected regions of Myanmar to promote peace and dialogue. The programme aims to assist and facilitate an inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue platform to support interreligious harmony in Myanmar. The participants make up a pool of peace educators who will continue community-based trainings to promote interreligious harmony. 

Peaceful Myanmar Initiative (PMI) is a multi-religious and inclusive network composed of 15 prominent religious leaders from different faith traditions (Buddhists, Muslims and Christians) and civil society organizations to promote peaceful dialogue across Myanmar and will continue to grow. Led by respected religious leaders and civil society activists, the PMI will join KAICIID in piloting various IRD and social media trainings in selected regions. PMI and its partners aim to serve as sustainable networks and platforms of Burmese-led activities to build bridges between diverse religious, ethnic, political and regional communities.  

KAICIID’s Myanmar Country Programme

The Myanmar country programme will focus on the development of interreligious networks as part of local peacebuilding processes, focusing on the sustainability of the investments in peacebuilding made in the country. The aim is to contribute to the active involvement of religious actors and community leaders in national efforts to help promote acceptance and respect. KAICIID’s activities in 2017 will centre on the Action Plan that was conceived in 2016 together with the members of the Peaceful Myanmar Initiative. They will focus on capacity building in key pilot regions in Myanmar, with KAICIID providing expertise on IRD methodologies and tools in promoting dialogue in conflict situations.