The role of sports and education in building durable, just and sustainable peace – the lessons from COVID

 

In this blog post, part of the NORRAG Blog Series on the Role of Quality Education in Building Just and Sustainable Peace, Amjad Mohamed-Saleem, Protection, Inclusion and Engagement Manager at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), discusses the positive impact sport and life skills have on young people, specifically as a way to counteract the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to the social isolation for that group. Mohamed-Saleem refers to results from youth empowerment projects led by IFRC in partnership with Generation Amazing – Qatar 2022’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

15% of the world’s population – some 1.2 billion people and counting – are aged between 15 to 29. The COVID lockdown has disproportionately affected people’s lives, especially millions of young people worldwide, with public health restrictions and socio-economic disruptions having a devastating impact on their education, mental health, career prospects, safety, and personal development.

Initially, children, adolescents and young adults were considered less vulnerable to the virus, but developments during the pandemic have shown otherwise. A World Vision investigation, revealed three key factors that COVID-19 has changed in the lives of children and young people on a massive scale: school disruption, emotional distress due to social distancing and increasing poverty (World Vision International, 2020). The research highlighted isolation and loneliness of young people because of school closures, on top of the disruption of their learning and daily routines. In addition, there is an acknowledgement of emotional distress and troubling feelings, linked to the uncertainty about how long the crisis and imposed isolation would last and the disruptions already caused to education, livelihoods, development, safety and mental health.  The pandemic has also exacerbated the mental well-being of young people (WEF, 2021) leading to greater aspects of depression, illness, disability and suicide.  To counter the repercussions on mental health in youth, reports (WEF 2021) suggests lifting the measures that have led to the social isolation of young people and makes a case for sleep and exercise which are effective in boosting mental health. Given the longstanding recommendations from medical professionals about sleep and physical exercise, it is pertinent that sports for development and peace projects can provide good examples to authorities and policy makers especially in the education and health sectors, to ensure that children, adolescents and young adults are taught techniques and approaches on life skills and enjoy a physical activity (whilst providing opportunities to do some social enterprises and community work) to help them sleep better and also have a better balance of mental health and social engagement.  In addressing mental health issues of young people, it must be realized that this is a whole of society issue rather than just a youth issue.

Whilst there have been some critical lessons taught by the COVID-19 crisis, the importance of transformation and innovation have been made possible.  The concept of remote and hybrid education, which became a necessity when the pandemic hit, provides the potential to transform the future of learning if systems are strengthened and technology is better leveraged to complement skilled and well-supported teachers.

In addressing the current challenges to do with youth isolation, exclusion, and violence prevention, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has spearheaded a new project in partnership with The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy of Qatar 2022 (SC) – Generation Amazing (GA).  The project is a unique hybrid of football for development skills (F4D) and Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change (YABC) and complemented through community micro projects. F4D is GA’s flagship programme that empowers and educates future generations around the globe to address three priority issues: vulnerability, health and wellbeing, and environmental sustainability. YABC is the IFRC’s flagship humanitarian education[1] initiative on the promotion of a culture of non-violence and peace (CNV+P), that empowers young people to take up an ethical leadership role in inspiring a positive transformation of mindsets, attitudes, and behaviors, both within themselves and their communities. It is built on three pillars: empowerment, operating from inner peace, and reaching out to the community.

The new project YABC/F4D project, “Uniting through the power of football’ consists of a hybrid curriculum that has been developed to combine the (Y)ABC methodology and  F4D approaches to use football as a driver for social change, developing youth leadership and inculcating a social entrepreneurship spirit through micro projects.  The project is intended to mobilize vulnerable at-risk young people and communities in out-of-school activities to help prevent the occurrence of violence, improve their access to education and employment, ensure better social inclusion and build resilience in excluded at-risk communities, leading to healthy lifestyles, greater engagement, fewer problems with peers, and increased pro-social behaviour. Through the project, young people will not only experience personal transformation but create an external ripple of change through community work whilst playing and learning about football. As they navigate their leadership journey, they will learn powerful skills around discipline, healthy living, teamwork, and engage with their local networks in meaningful ways. By doing so, they will create change in their schools, neighbourhoods, and the broader world by implementing solutions to some of the most challenging problems of our time from a community-based lens and with the initiator of this being the F4D methodology combined with YABC approach and additional basic educational processes. The project will involve thousands of young people in this process and will in turn create thousands of solutions directly implemented by young people.

The project is currently being trialed with Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies in Argentina, Uganda, Myanmar, and Iraq testing outcomes identified in the multi-country project design to assess the effectiveness and impact of combining the IFRC’s (Youth as) Agents of Behavioural Change ((Y)ABC) and GA’s Football for Development (F4D) initiatives.  With the onset of COVID lockdowns, much of the hybrid curriculum has had to be adopted for the online space with IFRC YABC trainers.  As the project unfolds, it expects to have an impact on the improvement in the social inclusion of marginalized and excluded youth, particularly those living in at-risk communities, refugees, and internally displaced young people, as well as in host communities, by recruiting disadvantaged youth to participate in football driven leadership development programmes. The programme puts forward a community-based model of resilience using team sports to address issues of identity, belonging and cultural isolation whilst also encouraging locally sourced ideas to address community problems which are then supported through small community micro projects.   It aims to prove that with the provision of life and leadership development skills, as well as learning opportunities to vulnerable and excluded community-based young people through an integrated F4D and (Y)ABC skills training programme, the of enhancement of local capabilities coupled with an opportunity to solve real community issues, will help young people drive social change on the ground and take responsibility for those actions. This will ultimately lead to an enhanced well-being and personal resilience of vulnerable youth.

So far the results speak for themselves (see the figure below). In 24 locations in 4 countries, 186 facilitators have been trained in delivering the hybrid curriculum. 1252 participants have taken part in the Hybrid curriculum developing 72 youth led and community based micro projects reaching around 22,300 people.  All of this within the space of a year under COVID restrictions and in the case of Myanmar, uncertainty caused by political instability.

One of the facilitators from Myanmar has described this project as “light in the midst of darkness”, whilst another participant from Uganda, a refugee who had fled conflict, expressed his feeling that “with this project, I have the chance of expressing my talent and being useful to the community once again”.  What has been also unique about the project is not just the change in those attending the programmes but also for the community who have also benefitted from the trainings and micro projects.  As a mother from one of the branches in Argentina stated, “the pitch has become a safe space for everyone to come and mix and overcome division.  By also participating with our children in these workshops, this has changed how we interact as parents”. The National Societies themselves have also noticed that change as this statement from the Iraqi Red Crescent testifies “The National Society was able to detect a significant change in the attitudes and behaviours of participants and the success of the project in fostering the ‘spirit of cooperation among all and the sense of belonging to the society”.

IFRC and GA believe that young people represent the single greatest untapped resource for good across the globe. They are ready to change the world. Through this project both partners want to show that sport and life skills will equip this generation of young people with the necessary skills and mindset to change the world for the better –not someday in the future –right now. They are hungry to lead and imagine innovative approaches to make their communities healthier, safer, and more inclusive, while writing new narratives of who they are and what they are capable of.

Amjad Mohamed-Saleem, is the Protection, Inclusion and Engagement Manager at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

[1] Humanitarian education (HE): education that enables individuals – especially children, adolescents and young adults – to interpret situations from a humanitarian perspective and develop the knowledge, values and skills that empower them to take action in the spirit of the Fundamental Principles, helping and caring for themselves and others, and thereby contributing to building resilience, social inclusion and lasting peace in their family, community and society.

this originally appeared here

Be Human

A few weeks ago , I was invited to give the closing keynote at the GoodFestival, organized as part of the graduation of the Roxbourg Humanitarian MBA sessions. I have also been privileged to be part of the Humanitarian MBS process since its beginnings last year.

Giving the closing keynote, I have been humbled by the journey that many who have gone through this process to make their social ventures possible. So I have been inspired to focus less on social ventures and more on the people behind the ventures because this is where the real magic is.

— —

Thank you Rajiv for the invite. It is an honour for me to be here this evening. It is also truly humbling.

I am humbled just to listen to the ventures generated by your ideas that you have generated to make your communities, societies and ultimately the world a better place.

I am also truly humbled by your courage to take the next step to be social entrepreneurs during these difficult times. I want to acknowledge how incredible you all are for making it this far. This past year and a half has tested so many of us, and I can’t imagine having to muster up the enthusiasm, much less the strength and courage, to start while the world was falling apart around us.

Courage

As Nelson Mandela said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. the brave man is not he who doesn’t feel afraid but he who conquers that fear”.

Congratulations for conquering that fear!

I promise you that, despite the insanity and uncertainty you’ve endured, you will cherish these years and the people around you who have been part of the journey either as part of Roxbourg or those who have supported you, for the rest of your life.

So today is a day of celebration. A day to celebrate all the hard work that got you to this moment.

Today is a day of thanks. A day to thank those who helped you get here — nurtured you, taught you, cheered you on, and dried your tears.

Today is also a day of reflection. Because today marks the end of one era of your life and the beginning of something new. Something new in terms of the next journey of the life of your social venture. So as you start this new journey, I want you to close your eyes and think of a blank canvas. With that canvas, what picture would you paint, what colours would you use, what would you be expressing? The picture you paint is one of the future of where you see yourself. Hopefully as you paint this picture, you will also picture why you wanted to start this venture or not. It might answer the questions of what prompted you to come here and what prompted you to continue to be part of Roxbourg. It is these feelings that should inspire you.

I want you to remember these feelings as you continue your journey of personal development and seeking to make the world a better place.

This journey with Roxbourg should have 1) granted you the room to make a space for yourself if you didn’t see one, which in turn, gave you the confidence to create a space for yourself; and most importantly and life-changing is 2) the community it has allowed you to build and allowed you to overcome the challenges.

Challenges

So I want to talk about challenges and overcoming them.

There will be challenges and this will mean that you have to learn to steer your ship into the choppy seas not away from them. This is the only way to learn and overcome. And as you steer your ship, look for the rough spots, the problems that seem too big, the complexities that other people are content to work around. It’s in those places that you will fulfil your purpose. It’s there that you can make your greatest contribution and building something better.

In a world where we obsessively document our own lives, most of us don’t pay nearly enough attention to what we owe one another and how we connect to each other. So part of this journey is about recognizing that human civilization began when we realize that we can do more together: that the threats and danger outside the flickering firelight get smaller when we get bigger. We can create more — more prosperity, more beauty, more wisdom, and a better life — when we acknowledge certain shared truths, a shared humanity and we act collectively.

We need to remember that not a single one of us here today has done or can do it it alone. We are each a mosaic of those who have loved us, those who have believed in our futures, those who showed us empathy and kindness or told us the truth even when it wasn’t easy to hear, those who told us we could do it when there was absolutely no proof of that.

Remember that someone read stories to you and taught you to dream and offered up some moral code of right and wrong for you to try and live by. So you need to pay this forward.

Kindness

No matter how cliché it may sound you will never truly be successful until you learn to give beyond yourself. Empathy and kindness are thus the true signs of emotional intelligence.

You want your work to be meaningful? Then be kind. Your life has to be a gradual process of becoming kinder and more loving and that’s when meaning brings the real richness to your life. What you really want is to be surrounded by people you trust and treasure and by people who cherish you. That’s when you’re really rich.

Hurry up. Speed it along. Start right now

Failings

Now I want to talk a little bit about failings, Because nobody’s journey is seamless or smooth. Innovation is about failing and learning and relearning. We all face complexity and uncertainty no matter where our path takes us. That means we all face the risk of failure. So along the way, we all are forced to develop these critical capacities — of judgment, teamwork, and acceptance of responsibility

As a social entrepreneur, you will stumble. You will have setbacks. However remember, that if things go wrong, you hit a dead end — as you will — it’s just life’s way of saying time to change course.

So, ask of every failure, every crisis, every difficult time: “what is this here to teach me?”

And as soon as you get the lesson, you get to move on. If you really get the lesson, you pass and you don’t have to repeat the class. If you don’t get the lesson, it shows up wearing another pair of clothes — to give you some remedial work.

I can assure you that difficulties come when you don’t pay attention to life’s whisper, because life always whispers to you first. And if you ignore the whisper, sooner or later you’ll get a scream. Whatever you resist persists. But, if you ask the right question — not why is this happening, but what is this here to teach me? — it puts you in the place and space to get the lesson you need.

Eckhart Tolle, who’s written this wonderful book called A New Earth reminds us about letting the awareness of who you are stimulate everything that you do. He puts it like this: “don’t react against a bad situation; merge with that situation instead. And the solution will arise from the challenge. Because surrendering yourself doesn’t mean giving up; it means acting with responsibility, you have to be in the moment. Whatever has happened to you in your past has no power over this present moment, because life is now. Don’t live for yourself alone”.

So in order to be truly happy, you must live for the now and you have to stand for something larger than yourself. Because life is a reciprocal exchange. To move forward you have to give back. And to me, that is the greatest lesson of life. To be happy, you have to give something back.

And when the challenges come, I hope you remember that anchored deep within you is the ability to learn and grow. You are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. Like a muscle, you can build it up, draw on it when you need it. In that process you will figure out who you really are — and you just might become the very best version of yourself.

So, it’s a lesson that applies to all of our lives as a whole. What matters most is what’s inside. What matters most is the sense of integrity, of quality and beauty.

You will be defined not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive. So build resilience in yourselves. When tragedy or disappointment strike, know that you have the ability to get through absolutely anything.

The journey

As I have repeatedly said, this is a journey.

Enjoy the process of this journey without succumbing to the pressure of the result. Trust your gut, keep throwing darts at the dartboard. Don’t listen to the critics and you will figure it out

I just want you to know you will never be alone on whatever path you may choose. If you do have a moment where you feel a little down just think of the support you have from this great family

Build and tap into your community. The brilliant minds who have accompanied you in this journey will have a hand in shaping the culture, making this world better, leaving long-lasting legacies behind and doing a bunch of other important things.

So continue to build resilient communities.We find our humanity — our will to live and our ability to love — in our connections to one another. Be there for your family and friends. And I mean in person. Not just in a message with a heart emoji. Remember that this is about being human and establishing that human connection.

The Guest House

I am reminded of the poem by the famous 13th century persian poet Rumi

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

This being human is about recognizing the different emotions that come to us.

This being human is about accepting the differences and the needs. One of the greatest human hungers is the need we all have to make a difference in the lives of others. The purpose of life is a life of purpose; to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate, to seek justice. It is above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you have lived at all, to contribute to the saving of a life because to save one life is as if you have saved the whole of mankind. The highest and most enduring gift that you will give is the gift of what you leave behind. What makes greatness is something that does not end with you.

These are the universal values and principles that bind us in the brotherhood of humanity and help us to think of a world that makes sense where we connect to one another, where we are compassionate, working in partnership with our neighbours and friends working together towards that one single goal

So once again congratulations on getting to this start of the journey. Good luck. Enjoy the journey with your fellow travellers; have fun; share; learn and unlearn. I look forward to seeing the new ideas coming through

Remember that what ever you do the law of reciprocity will prevail. As the eastern philosophy states that a little bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives the rose.

Let me finish off with 10 b’s

BE INNOVATIVE

BE CREATIVE

BE OPEN

BE PRINCIPLED

BE TRUSTWORTHY

BE COMPASSIONATE

BE PATIENT

BE HUMBLE

BE FUN

And in the words of Rumi BE HUMAN

May you shine so brightly that at the end of your days, all will pause and say ‘ah there was one who lived life fully and completely and gave back ’

Thank you

--

Originally written here on Medium

Ramadan — reinforcing our relationships

 For many Muslims worldwide, the 2nd of April marks the first day of Ramadan, the observance of the fasting (from food, water and innate desires) between sunrise and sunset. Muslims will faithfully observe this third fundamental pillar of Islam as has been ordained by God. In addition to the physical sacrifices and discipline that Ramadan brings about, it also represents a spiritual space for remembering and strengthening relationships: with yourself, with the Creator and with each other.

Relationship with the Creator

We are invited to re-examine our relationship with the Creator. Through acts of worship during the Blessed Month we take up a dialogue with The Most-High and The Most-Close, a dialogue of intimacy, of sincerity, of love. This re-examination allows us to realize that we marry the purpose of our existence with the purpose of our subsistence, whilst nurturing the inspiration from the Qur’an that ‘God will not change anything for the good if you change nothing’!

Ramadan reinforces within ourselves the importance of detail, precision and discipline in whatever task that we perform. Through Ramadan, God teaches us that in the quest for spirituality and meaning, rules will have to be respected, consistency maintained and time mastered. So as we debate on the precise starting and ending day of Ramadan; and we faithfully adhere to the precise time to stop eating and to break the fast; and we perform prayers at the specified times; so must we continue this discipline of precision and practice in all that we do.

Relationship with ourselves

Ramadan offers us a space to ponder, to reflect, to seek, to find and to learn in order for us to make crucial life changing decisions as we align ourselves towards the Centre and the Meaning and re-examine the relationship with ourselves. Seeking that meaning is best understood if you have read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, where the understanding is very simple: ‘Go; travel the world, look for the truth and the secret of life — every road will lead you to this sense of initiation: the secret is hidden in the place from which you set out’.

This is in essence the ultimate paradox of spiritual experience whereby the constant effort that we make to purify, to control and liberate our hearts is in the end, a reconciliation with the deepest level of our being and the All Spark that the Creator breathed into our heart, of humility, of compassion, the awareness of fragility, the consciousness of limitation, the shoulder of responsibility. The responsibility to live justly and fairly. It is a responsibility that connects to the ‘other’, the responsibility to be that change for a world which makes sense, a world in which we connect with other people, beyond our immediate communities and experience, where we show them compassion and love.

Relationship with the Other

At the heart of our consumer society, where materialism and individualism drive our daily lives, this love and compassion is vital as we are reminded of our unity and universality through a celebration of the faith of fraternal atmosphere shared with all brothers and sisters. We are reminded to ‘serve humanity especially those in need; to awaken our conscience in the proximity of the wounds and the injustices people face as we are taught that God’s favor lies with acts of kindness and humility to everyone around you. As narrated by the Prophet (Peace be upon him) of the story about the ‘thirsty dog which was on the brink of death, and of the passing prostitute who witnessed this, removed her shoe and used it to draw water from a well to give to the animal. For this small act, the woman was granted forgiveness for her lifetime’. The lesson that we learn from that story is that our purpose of existence is to stand by justice and equity; to portray the humility and compassion of the Prophet (upon whom be peace) towards the downtrodden, the distressed and the oppressed.

Ramadan invites us to re-examine our relationship with our society. It teaches us that we share the burdens of others (especially those less fortunate than us) and we remember our responsibilities towards them. Identifying with others in different ways is important in our role of living in society as founded upon a universal humanitarian principle based on the following verse from the Holy Qur’an “…If anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind…” (Q5:32).

Hence this is the purpose of our existence. Collectively and individually we have to recommit ourselves to realize a dream and fulfill a covenant that was made with the One: to stand by justice and equity; to show humility and compassion towards the vulnerable and marginalised, the downtrodden and distressed regardless of who they are, as we have been taught countless times before. Our covenant is to serve humanity; to be witnesses against the injustices that afflict them. Because humanity has the right to have witnesses living among them, willing to defend the truth; willing to serve them, no matter how unpopular it is. This takes determination and courage where courage is not the absence of fear but courage is to move despite your fear. This is the dream that we aspire to. This is the need of the hour.

Thus Ramadan is about reinforcing relationships though a reconnection with our spark, reinforcing our personal effort and commitment and inviting us towards the deep horizons of introspection and meaning reminding us of silence, restraint and remembrance.

So a world which makes sense, is a world in which we connect with other people, often beyond our immediate communities and experience, and show them compassion and love. This is the ultimate aspect of the relationship building as inculcated by Ramadan.

Published here on Medium

Dear fellow traveller

 Dear fellow traveller on this journey of being human,

As we travel together enjoying this journey of life, bickering about the destination, worrying about its purpose, it can feel incredibly emotional and overwhelming.  When external circumstances divert our path or put in obstacles, it can feel uncertain.  The last few days have reminded me of the globalisation of fragility and the democratisation of inequality and inequity.  Just as we thought we were seeing the light at the end of the COVID tunnel, it seemed to have been blown up with an unsettling  prospect of another global war (on our doorsteps).  The journey will require great mental resolve and strength to get through these uncertain times.

So I wanted to share with you that it is ok not to be ok all the time.  It is ok to feel disoriented, overwhelmed, stress, sadness, loneliness and languishing, anxiety.  Believe me that I have had those moments of feeling overwhelmed and disconnected – from other people, from our own values or from hope about the future.  The last few days have been no different.

These emotions affect us in our jobs and our lives and pretending they don’t exist will not help us.  So I firstly wanted to say, that if you have experienced or are experiencing these roller coaster of emotions and doubts, please know that you are not alone!! I hear you, there is nothing to be worried or ashamed about and you do not need to turn it off when you get to work.  It is not a sign of weakness to show that you are vulnerable.  In fact as Rumi says :

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

This brings me to my second point, in that.  Please do take care of yourself.  There is no shame in feeling overwhelmed and disconnected, admitting that or even reaching out to talk to someone.   I want you to know that if you want support or someone to talk to or someone to listen, I am on the other side of a call.  But if it is not me there will always be someone to do that.

My third point, is that while it is ok not to feel ok, please know that in the long run, things will be OK.  Tomorrow is a new day and it has the potential to be great!!  You have to back yourself up and trust that all of your hard work, your delivering of value to the world, your visualizing and visioning, your personal growth practices, your journaling, your prayers and so on, will prepare you and allow you to stand steadfast in the trouble.  For those of you who have read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho we are reminded to : ‘Go; travel the world, look for the truth and the secret of life — every road will lead you to this sense of initiation: the secret is hidden in the place from which you set out’.  The path and destination starts with ourselves.   So in essence the radical self care that comes out of  personal peace practices whereby the constant effort that we make to purify, to control and liberate our hearts is in the end, reconciliation with the deepest level of our being and the all spark that the Creator breathed into our heart of humility, of compassion,  the awareness of fragility, the consciousness of limitation, the shoulder of responsibility. The responsibility is to live justly and fairly.  It is a responsibility that connects to the ‘other’, the responsibility to be that change for a  world which makes sense, a world in which we connect with other people, beyond our immediate communities and experience, and show them compassion and love.  It is now more than ever that we need to show that responsibility to connect to that other and the humility that we are not the rulers of the world but merely guardians of earth as we borrow from our grandchildren.    

Have faith that I and countless others have your back.  But more importantly, have conviction that  the higher force that works to keep the world in balance know what it’s doing.  Have faith that we as a species will eventually figure it all out and make things better through our native instinct for invention and progress.  But have faith that your little endeavors to change the world one person at a time is saving humanity.

So, take a long, great inhale.  Let it all go (while you keep doing your best).

Then go sit outside in the sunshine and bask in the love that the sun has for the earth, every day rising and never saying “you owe me”.  Let life do the rest.

May you shine so brightly that at the end of your days, all will pause and say ‘ah there was one who lived life fully and completely and gave back ’

Stay great. Stand Strong. Together we rise.

-Amjad

this originally appeared here on Euphrates Institute

What will it take to build an International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement free from racism, xenophobia and discrimination?

 In every society, there are people who experience racism and discrimination. Their impact is far-reaching, increasing the risk of interpersonal violence, exacerbating inequalities, creating mental health and psychosocial issues and hampering access to essential services, including during crises. Racism and discrimination lead to people being left out, left behind and left hurt because of what they look like or where they come from.

Racism and discrimination – as experienced by black, indigenous and other people of colour, people of certain castes and other marginalized groups – are colonial in their origins. They have led to deeply ingrained systemic attitudes and power inequalities that are visible in political, economic and social structures. These, in turn, have created intertwined layers of discrimination and oppression that have very tangible consequences for groups and individuals.

The intersection between these dynamics and humanitarianism presents a complex reality – including within and for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement) – and one that warrants investigation. The Council of Delegates workshop on 31 March 2022 aims to do just this.

As members of a global Movement, we cannot ignore the fact that we are the product of our own contexts and environments, and therefore influenced by different attitudes to racism and discrimination. We need to be conscious that our Movement’s history, our Fundamental Principles and our humanitarian work do not make us immune from bias, misperceptions, power imbalances, privilege, racism and discrimination.

Honest debate can reveal hard truths that enable us to collectively understand and acknowledge the issues and challenges we face and the steps we need to take to address them. Power imbalances, privilege, unconscious bias, processes and systems that provide some National Societies with greater resources and a seat at the table can lead to inequitable working practices and relationships. To tackle systemic and structural issues, to address cultural norms and individual bias and fears, we must challenge the system, the funding patterns, the culture and the structures that maintain and perpetuate privilege for some groups and individuals while restricting the rights and privileges of others. We have to be prepared to challenge this by asking: Can people see themselves represented here? Does our organizational culture relate to people’s lived experiences? How do we prioritize the views of local communities and work with them?

The rejection of all forms of discrimination and inequity lies at the heart of our Fundamental Principles and our values. Our principle of impartiality demands that there be no discrimination based on nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions if we are to properly respect the human being as set out in the principle of humanity. This is crucial if we are to relieve the suffering of people in need. It is equally important to remember that this extends to who we are as much as to whom we serve. Our principle of neutrality does not mean staying silent in the face of racism and violence. It means speaking out and transitioning from a passive stance of not directly engaging in racist or discriminatory behaviour (such as not acknowledging differences and not actively addressing systems of oppression) to dismantling systemic racism.

We need to transform the Movement so that it is characterized by anti-racist, decolonized and decolonizing humanitarian assistance. As a Movement, we need to have the courage to hold this debate and to have the sensitivity to ensure that all sides are considered. The case for anti-racism, diversity, equality and inclusion is a moral one. We need to do better, and not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s the morally right thing to do – to treat people with dignity, respect and humanity.

Over the years, there have been many statutory commitments that have led to strategies, policies and operational plans related to diversity, inclusion and protection, and yet we are still falling short in fostering honest conversations about racism, discrimination and xenophobia. We need to do more to build trust between each other and with local communities and to improve respect for and acceptance of diversity. Any discussion must be followed by acts and long-term actions to nurture understanding and support for better practices within the Movement, enabling all to have their voices heard and respected.

originally published here

Trust building Part 2: the need for dialogue

This is the second part of a 2 part series exploring the role of trust and dialogue. the first part looked at what trust means. Building on the first part of this blog, dialogue is a means and a goal of bridging the trust deficit.

In his Christmas sermon, Pope Francis called for dialogue on the world stage to resolve conflict. This is an important recognition of the role of dialogue as a foundation for resolving conflict as it builds trust.

Dialogue can transform individuals in societies in a way that increases true social cohesion, because it strengthens trust and understanding, and enables real relationships to be built across differences. Dialogue is a two way process of mutual accommodation that can only take place if both “sides” have a deeper understanding of the needs, perspectives, desires, fears, and priorities of the other. It is not just about understanding what the other is saying, but what they really mean.

As the international centre for dialogue (KAICIID) interfaith dialogue manual states, dialogue is more than just a conversation. The goal is not to find a resolution to a problem or settling on a specific action, but the point is to explore and find common ground, leading to solutions or cooperation. This is a particular important tool in diverse societies seeking to incorporate, celebrate and use that diversity. Dialogue becomes an effective approach to strengthening social cohesion within culturally and religiously diverse societies because it allows for people to maintain their various identities while still finding common ground.

common ground

Dialogue helps people who are different sides of an argument; those that are marginalised and excluded, to understand that they are not alone in their hopes and fears; nor do people need to be afraid or ashamed to ask difficult questions to seek to understand, to respect and ultimately to accept differences without compromising one’s beliefs or identities.

Dialogue is a powerful tool that can be undertaken in both formal and informal settings. Diaological approaches provides a certain code to undertake informal dialogue. This determines a set of principles to be followed in the interaction with the other. It provides for a quality of interaction that allows for a way of getting involved in different creative processes where the participants can feel included and empowered, safe to be transparent, take risks, open to what others have to say and able to take long term view of the issues.

These are important ways to strengthen cohesion as it maintains identities whilst finding common grounds

Thus the aim of dialogue is to overcome misunderstandings and dispel stereotypes in order to gain better mutual understanding. Rather than necessarily agreeing on a point of view, dialogue is about recognising and developing mutual respect so as to build sustainable relationships. By focusing on common needs, dialogue builds bridges and transforms human relations. It fosters deeper understanding, so that even though disagreements may persist, an appreciation for the perspectives of the other can emerge .

identity formation

In taking a dialogical approach, misperceptions and fears can be dispelled, understanding built which lays the ground work for practical approaches to peaceful coexistence. This is extremely important when we are faced with the politics of identity as we are increasingly faced with now. As social beings, we have a unique collection of thoughts, habits and beliefs that define who we are, as they have been imprinted on our lives through a series of events and contexts. This shapes our identity and our expressions and representations of it. As Amartya Sen (2007) writes “Identity incorporates the ideas, beliefs, qualities and expressions that make a person who he/she is. This self-perception is modelled by relation with others and with an individual’s own context in time”.

Identities are important because they form the basis of who we believe ourselves to be and how we fit in with the world. Identity formation gives the sense of worth and value to people. It constructs their common views and meanings, shaping their experiences, perception and behaviour. Identity is represented through cultural attributes. While cultures may differ from one another, one aspect they all share in common is that they provide a framework to fulfil the primary human need to belong. Thus, humans strive to fulfil this basic need to belong through one or more of the broader collective identities, in addition to the recognition of their own personal identity. Their cultural identity often overlaps with language and ethnicity, and sometimes also religion.

Worldviews are also important in dialogue as they define how a person views the world, including all the conscious and unconscious elements that form and influence the person’s perception of reality. A worldview can be seen as dynamic, as these elements, as well as the individual’s perception of reality, may change over time. Therefore, inter worldview dialogue aims to improve mutual understanding of different worldviews, including the numerous identities and sub-identities, and it opens pathways for more inclusive language.

When we feel unacknowledged or receive negative feedback or experience negative reactions to our personal identities, we tend to suppress our identity and develop coping narratives. Sometimes these narratives are used to justify violence against others, and foster further exclusion or inclusion of only those with whom we share that particular identity. The good news is that the same is true in the reverse: when identities are recognised and affirmed, we also develop narratives about them. Ultimately these stories act as a protective mechanism and directly affect how we interact with others as well as influence who we choose to engage with and who we choose to avoid. Thus, when we have a single story that has been built upon negative stereotypes and false perceptions of those who are different from us, we can easily become prone towards prejudice and discrimination against others.

Dialogue allows us to become more aware of these power dynamics of identities and hierarchy of identities. Dialogue requires clarity of purpose. We need to be aware of What do we want to achieve and what questions do we need to answer in order to get there?

Building blocks

As someone who has been working in the space of dialogue and trust building over the last decade, here are some some of the building blocks that I have learnt that enable us to have a conversation and keep a focus on the end goal

1) Approach as a golden rule — We need to be aware of the golden rule of treating others as we wish to be treated. Bx expanding this premise, we respect others just as we expect others to respect us. We need to respect the differences that make each and everyone unique. Dialogue can take then place only between equals, which means that partners learn from each others

2) Honesty and sincerity — It is imperative that each participant comes to the dialogue process with complete honesty and sincerity. This means not only describing the major and minor thrusts, as well as potential future shifts of one’s tradition, but also possible difficulties that s/he has with it. Everyone must be honest and sincere, even if that means revealing discomforts with your own tradition or that of the other. Everyone must assume that everyone else is being equally honest and sincere

3) Openness to learn and to understanding and embracing other identities- The essential purpose of dialogue is to learn, which entails change. At the very least, to learn that one’s dialogue partner views the world differently is to effect a change in oneself. Reciprocally, change happens for one’s partner as s/he learns about her/himself. One needs to enter into dialogue so that you can learn and grow, not to change the other. This means we need to relearn the art of listening and be willing to experience it from within, which requires a “passing over,” even if only momentarily, into another’s religious or ideological experience All should strive to experience the other’s faith “from within” and be prepared to view themselves differently as a result of an “outside” perspective. People must not come to the dialogue with any preconceptions as to where the points of disagreement lie. A process of agreeing with one’s partner as much as possible, without violating the integrity of one’s own tradition, will reveal where the real boundaries between the traditions lie: the point where s/he cannot agree without going against the principles of one’s own tradition

4) Don’t be insecure about your own identity (self reflection) — Each participant needs to describe her/himself from their perspective and postion. For example, only a Muslim can describe what it really means to be an authentic member of the Muslim community. At the same time, when one’s partner in dialogue attempts to describe back to them what they have understood of their partner’s self-description, then such a description must be recognizable to the described party Participants in dialogue should have a healthy level of criticism toward their own traditions. A lack of such criticism implies that one’s tradition has all the answers, thus making dialogue not only unnecessary but unfeasible. The primary purpose of dialogue is to learn, which is impossible if one’s tradition is seen as having all the answers. Sometimes you can explore and understand yourself better when engaging with others. Interfaith dialogue to foster understanding among religions

5) Accept boundaries you are in a Journey- Don’t feel that you are the spokesperson for your entire community or faith tradition or that you ought somehow to know everything there is to know about it. Admit any confusion or uncertainty you might have if a puzzling question arises

6) Dialogue must be a two-sided project: both between religious/ideological groups, and within religious/ideological groups (inter- and intra-). Intra-religious/ideological dialogue is vital for moving one’s community toward an increasingly perceptive insight into reality. Understand similarities and differences between theological and philosophical discussions on an intellectual level. Don’t assume in advance where points of agreement or disagreement will exist. Everyone should be willing to be self-critical

7) Lived Experience is vital — One must compare only her/his ideals with their partner’s ideals and her/his practice with the partner’s practice, not one’s ideals with one’s partner’s practice. Value other peoples position and experience and spirituality by learning about different religions through sacred writings, stories and narratives. Everyone must be permitted to define their own religious experience and identity, and others must respect this

8) Trust is a means and a goal — Trust is a must. Confidences must be kept within the group. Everyone should feel “safe “ to express their ideas and feelings without fear. Dialogue can only take place on the basis of mutual trust. Because it is persons, and not entire communities, that enter into dialogue, it is essential for personal trust to be established. To encourage this it is important that less controversial matters are discussed before dealing with more controversial ones

9) Work together on joint projects to actualize your shared ideals and understandings. — You need to work together on specific projects to actualize that trust. Nothing works better than joint projects on the ground helping to actualize the commonality and differences between people.

trust building

Trust building through dialogue involving shared endeavour and mutual vulnerability requires a willingness to be open to understanding the lifeworld of another. This most certainly does not mean that one needs to agree with its every detail, nor to, in some way, concede something essential in oneself. It does however need to understand where other ideas are coming from — historically and intellectually. In other words, the doors need to be kept open, not slammed shut.

So how do we build the trust that creates the ideas and institutions that will allow us to live together as the global tribe? Using the Trust Quotient buttressed by the 4 R’s of Trustbuilding outlined in part 1 one can create a safe space for critical self-reflection but more importantly to reach out to dialogue with the other. This is extremely important to achieve what the pope calls as the search for “reconciliation and fraternity”

This originally appeared here

Diversity is a fact

 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are currently occupying everyone’s attention since the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and the concept of anti-racism and decolonization became more prominent. However, to start with that, it is important to note that the co-option of racism, diversity and inclusion, social justice and social good does not equate with a conversation on decolonisation. We need to understand the narrative of decolonisation, colonial, localization and the intersection with diversity, equality, and inclusion. Yet they are not the same!

Decolonisation debates did not start in 2020 but started when people in the global south began organizing to counter the ideologies of the oppressors who sought to enforce power and seize land. It is about coming up with a new ‘paradigm’ of thinking and approach that interrogates the post-colonial agenda provides agency to the ‘local’ that has a pedagogy of liberation and freedom that works in partnership with the affected community. It is about disrupting the system and upending the structure according to and with local voices, cultures and traditions. It is about taking the risk and having the right actors at the table to hear their voices.  

The conversations around DEI focus on the need to provide for inclusive participation. Inclusive participation is about understanding that power imbalances in all societies mean that some people experience more privilege. Those same power imbalances mean that many other people experience more violence, discrimination and exclusion than others. Some of the most prominent examples of power imbalances have been expressed through racism, xenophobia, colonialism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of entrenched oppression that remain rampant globally. 

This means getting a better understanding of the intersectionality of identities. Individuals have several layers to their identities. Gender, ethnic origin, nationality or citizenship, age, disability, language, political opinions, religious beliefs, social background, sexual orientation, physical appearance and colour that “intersect” – or are “woven” together.

People suffer discrimination against a combination of these factors. An intersectional perspective emphasizes the importance of looking at these forms of discrimination together and at the same time in order to understand their compound effects on the individual.

At the heart of the inclusive, participative approach is an analysis of not only how pre-existing inequalities and differences lead to vulnerabilities, capacities, risks and levels of exposure to harm; for different people but how the intersectionalities of identities (such as people’s gender, disability, age, ethnic origin, nationality or citizenship, language, religious beliefs, political opinion, social background, sexual orientation, physical appearance and colour) impact the level of barriers they face in their efforts to meet basic needs, to be recognized and included, and to be safe from harm. Considering these factors and how they interrelate is central to looking at immediate risks and consequences of exclusion and violations and the causes of those risks.

Thus the central concept of inclusive participation is the emphasis on the equality and dignity of each human being and the humanitarian imperative to not discriminate against any single one – including acknowledging that if we do not adapt our work and approach to the different needs of different people, and we do not model the diversity of the community we serve, we are in fact discriminatory!!

 

1

 

This paradigm shift in thinking and approach relies on equity which is different to the concept of equality. The latter is based on the assumption that everyone benefits from the same support. This is represented by diagram 1.

However, equity speaks more to the intersectional approach, which speaks to how individuals may need different types of support and approaches based on their varying vulnerabilities in varying degrees in order to benefit from equal outcomes.

Thus, equity leads to equality!! For example, working on equal gender rights means that equitable measures need to be taken to ensure those equal rights are met.

This is represented by diagram 2. 

2

 

 

Ideally, the scenario from the diagrams is to get rid of the fence altogether, as shown below in diagram 3.

3

This is justice and ultimately the end result of inclusive participation and social inclusion.

Inclusive participation improves the ability, opportunity and dignity of individuals and groups excluded on the basis of their identity to take part in society. Working on social inclusion matters reduces in reducing inequalities based on social backgrounds, identities, roles and power relations. Providing inclusive services means giving equitable access to resources for all. This means that everyone has a role to play. It is not only important that we get people from the ‘minority’ groups to shout louder about getting equitable rights and representation. It is not until their narrative is understood and mainstreamed by the majority that we can actually move the conversation forward. DEI should not be a simple ‘tick box’ exercise but an integral and embedded process that takes into account power dynamics, identities, possibilities and vulnerabilities across societies.

We need to do better; we need to be better, not because it is the good thing to do, but the right thing to do, to treat people with dignity, respect and humanity. This is our moral responsibility. Put simply, diversity is a fact, and inclusion is an act!!!

This originally appeared here