KAICIID is conducting a course on interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding in cooperation with the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI). At the five-day course held in the Philippines from 1 June 2015, 25 practitioners from the Asian-Pacific region and beyond study the framework and applications of interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding. The diverse group includes participants from different religious backgrounds, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam; and several countries, such as Canada, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines.

This course explores the role of religion in resolving conflicts. Participants will also discuss how peacebuilding methods are applied practically in an interreligious setting. Through their coursework, participants will gain a more detailed understanding about the accomplishments and the pitfalls of interreligious dialogue in peacebuilding. In the course, religion is treated as an aspect of individual and group identity which influences the causes, dynamics, outcomes of conflicts, and intervention methods.

Facilitators will share specific skills, concepts, and case studies that offer effective ways to handle religious differences in community conflict and peacebuilding training. Participants will learn skills and approaches to deal with prejudice, stereotyping, and ethnocentrism and religio-centrism in conflict settings.

Through this cooperation, KAICIID is supporting the peacebuilding field in the Asia-Pacific region by training peacebuilding practitioners on the potential of religion for conflict resolution, as well as on how to apply peacebuilding methods in an interreligious setting.

Background: Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute

 The Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI) is an Asian training institute in Mindanao, Philippines, that provides a space for people of diverse backgrounds to come together, share, and learn in a safe environment. MPI, as a resource for peacebuilders, provides skills, conducts research and builds solidarity within the Asia-Pacific region. Since it was established, MPI has trained over 1,800 peacebuilders coming from more than 40 countries around the globe.

Interested in becoming part of KAICIID’s training programmes? Contact us.