Peace Connectivity Programme for Religious Clergy

A programme to introduce the Buddhist religous clergy to non-violent conflict transformation processes through providing training in English language, ICT and peace building skills.

Description

The initiative starts ICT and Language Training Centres for Religious Clergy, with computers and teachers for teaching ICT, Peace Building, Tamil and English.

This was initiated as a response to a request made by a group of Buddhist Religious Clergy with whom CPBR has been working for the past three years. Buddhist monks perceived their current position in relation to the conflict as a result of not having access to the world and new methods of non-violent conflict transformation.

The first program of this project started in July 2006 in the Anuradhapura District. It is scheduled to continue with organisational supervision and support for the first six months and then to continue with the support and motivation of the relevant community. Both Buddhist nuns and monks are involved in the initiative.

This pilot project is being replicated in three more centres in Southern, Central and Vayamba provinces and we have the expectation of expanding the initiative to include all religious clergy in Sri Lanka.

Aims / Objectives

The current voice of the Buddhist clergy is not favourable towards a non-violent solution to the ethnic conflict. The majority perceive the establishment of a dominant Sinhala-Buddhist ideology in the country as being crucial to safeguard the nation. The non-violent conflict transformation process so far in the country is seen as giving away the power and authority the Sinhala Buddhists have in the country. Since they are an influential group in the decision making process of the country in relation to the conflict, their voice for peace can make a difference in the pending war situation in the country. It is important for the Buddhist clergy to have exposure to non-violent conflict transformation strategies to be able to trust in such a process in Sri Lanka.

Therefore the project aims to provide the Buddhist clergy with awareness of new trends and mechanisms of conflict transformation. Teaching English, computer skills and peace building aim for this. Thorough this they would be able to have a wider exposure to the conflict transformation processes throughout the world and how non-violent conflict transformation strategies that are in alignment with Buddhism have been employed successfully in different contexts, as the movement of engaged Buddhism that was practiced in Vietnam and truth and reconciliation commission in South Africa.

Further the initiative expects to improve the Buddhist clergy’s familiarity with the Tamil culture and language through the Tamil language lessons.

This expects to mobilise the voice of Buddhist clergy for peace and through them, influence both the community and the policy making level.

How it is Articulated

The initiative started according to a request made by the Buddhist clergy with whom cpbr has been working for three years, conducting peace building and conflict transformation work. They requested an opportunity to learn computer technology, peace building and conflict transformation methods and English. Therefore the centre focuses on providing this knowledge using the latest computers, internet and close professional guidance in all subjects. Classes are taught weekly and CPBR also added the lessons on Tamil language for the participants.

At the end of the first six months period, the clergy who followed the course will be given a certificate and attend a CPBR organised symposium to discuss their future path according to what they learned from the initiative. CPBR hopes to form similar groups of monks all over the country and unite them thorough a national cell of monks who represent all the areas of the country. This will be a powerful coalition that will make their voice for peace heard through actions conducted for peace building and conflict transformation.

The evaluation and the learning points of each centre will contribute to further enriching of the next one.

Achievements / Learning Points

In the Sri Lankan context, initiatives working for peace building in relation to the ethnic conflict are regarded with suspicion and the Buddhist clergy community are a prominent group who mistrust the intentions of NGOs and withhold their support from their endeavours. In this light, the enthusiasm and interest among the Buddhist Clergy on the initiative itself is an achievement. The request for the initiative came from the Buddhist Clergy themselves who have participated in peace building and conflict transformation workshops conducted by CPBR. For Buddhist clergy to make such a request, it takes a high level of trust in the initiative since the Buddhist community often perceive NGOs as a western supporters who promote Christianity. Therefore this can be seen as the first step of the path in getting Buddhist Clergy’s support for non-violent conflict transformation methods in the ethnic conflict.

The initiative provides contemporary learning (computer training, Peace and conflict resolution training and English and Tamil language training) for the Buddhist Clergy whose education is limited to a few subjects that are connected to Buddhism, rarely being linked to the education to the modern context and the changes that have taken place in it. Through this process the perspective of the clergy widens, opening them up for alternative ways of non-violent conflict resolution. This achievement becomes rather significant in the light of the indirect power and influence Buddhist Clergy has over the state policy crafting.

The importance of this initiative for the conflict transformation of the country is evident in the replications of the pilot project in Anuradhapura being conducted in other areas of the country. Already three more centres are in the process of being started in three other provinces of the country.

Aims and objectives of the initiative are easier to achieve if the teaching material starts from the familiar concepts of Buddhist peace building concepts and this perspective can be maintained in teaching English, Computer and Tamil. It will be further productive to include material that emphasises the linkages created between Sinhalese and Tamils thorough Buddhism.

Geographical Area of Operation

Anuradhapura (North Central Province), Central, Southern and Vayamba provinces.

Funding Resources

USAID-OTI Colombo and open for other funders as well in the next phases.

Organisations Involved

Dhammavedi institute for Mass Communication.