Empowering refugees and displaced people in Ukraine to strengthen and maintain their own wellbeing
Psychosocial Peacebuilding
Why now? How to do it? Can you also learn it?
IAHV Peacebuilding Programs effectively transform the mindsets, attitudes, wellbeing and behaviour of individuals and communities engaged in or affected by conflict and violence.
Cooperating with other organisations in a holistic approach, IAHV lays a strong psycho-social foundation in which other peace and development efforts can take root.
Supplying this missing link in peacebuilding, we turn personal transformation into greater peacebuilding impact.
IAHV also advocates and builds capacity for psychosocial peacebuilding programming and awareness on an international level, including the structural integration of MHPSS and Peacebuilding.
The 3 objectives of IAHV Peacebuilding Programs
- Preventing and Breaking Cycles of Violence
- Restoring Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Creating Cultures of Peace
Impact in 20+ conflict and war-zones:
300.000+ trauma-relief beneficiaries (Iraq, Israel-Palestine, Kashmir, India, US, Balkans, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, Northern Caucasus and Afghanistan)
7400+fighters laid down arms (Kashmiri militants, Naxalite terrorists, FARC rebels, Kosovo Liberation Army veterans, the LTTE in Sri Lanka, militants in Assam, Maoists in Nepal, ao)
Colombia breakthrough in peace process: FARC leadership embraces Gandhian principles of non-violence and agrees to speed up the peace process after mediation by IAHV Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in June 2015.
Prisons worldwide: rehabilitation programs for 700.000 prisoners and staff
Gangs: reintegration of gang members
Reconciliation between tribes/villages
Healing, Resilience and Prevention of Extremism for 18.000 war affected children in Lebanon and Jordan (EU project)
Reduced PTSD symptoms in US war veterans
What We Do
Trauma Relief, Resilience and Empowerment
Effective, accessible and scalable workshops significantly reducing symptoms of PTS, anxiety and depression through a self-empowering approach
Preventing and Transforming Violent Extremism – Mobilising Youth for Peace
Effective transformation of attitudes and behaviours of radicalised individuals and groups and their nonviolent empowerment, reintegration of ex-combatants, and healing and resilience for survivors, affected families and communities.
Towards Integrated Peacebuilding: Psychosocial Wellbeing, Skills and Knowledge for Increased Peacebuilding Impact:
Learn analytical frameworks to design psychosocial peacebuilding programs, gain confidence to innovate through personal experience, nurture your peacebuilding qualities and remain peaceful in the midst of conflict.
Social Cohesion: Dialogue and Reconciliation
Individual and community programs providing healing and well-being, transcending identity based conflict and sectarianism, building social resilience and cohesion and motivating participation in reconciliation activities
Global Advocacy for Integrated Peacebuilding
IAHV advocates and builds capacity for psychosocial peacebuilding programming and awareness on an international level, including the structural integration of MHPSS and Peacebuilding.
Resilience and Self-Care Programs:
We provide peacebuilders, humanitarian, health and other frontline workers with simple but effective tools to improve stress management, personal resilience, well-being, performance capacity and prevent burn-out.
Characteristics of IAHV Approach
- Self-empowering
- Effective
- Evidence-based
- Cost-effective
- Applicable across different cultural and social backgrounds
- Scaleable
- Easily accessible and low risk of stigmatization
Testimonials
“I wholeheartedly endorse the IAHV Peacebuilding Program that you are launching. I firmly believe that IAHV has the promise of bringing something unique and impactful to traditional peacebuilding efforts.”
Sanjay Pradhan, Vice-President World Bank Institute
“I think this will address the roots of conflict, the psychological dimension that nobody deals with or comes close to. They think it is something very complicated. They need to find solutions for difficult cases and treat each case separately. However, this is an effective group approach for psycho-social issues.” Sanaa, social worker, Beirut
“You send people to a workshop for a week and you figure they’re going to feel better. But to see something one year after is pretty amazing.” Dr. Emma Seppala, Associate Director Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford
“You are more effective in psycho-social support than any of the specialized agencies.” Youth worker, Tripoli, Lebanon
“Now we can trust again. We did not trust anyone anymore.” Displaced Yazidi from Sinjar, Iraq
“This (IAHV Programs) needs to spread across Syria and Lebanon.” Social activist, Tripoli, Lebanon
“I was very happy in the course. Very happy. I learned exercises that relax my body. My heart was emptied from all problems and burdens. It made us get rid of the tension and anger. I wish that all people will come to this happy place.”Malik, 12 yr, Bab Al Tabaneh, Tripoli, Lebanon
“I wish it wouldn’t be just 7 days program, I hope IAHV can have a center here where we can come to you. Just as you opened a door for us please open it to others too, this is what matters to us.”Ibrahim, Syrian youth refugee from Aleppo, Haret Hreik
“I observed many victims of war suffering from PTS in serious post-conflict circumstances in Kosovo. IAHV trainings have significantly helped them in their recovery.” Vehbi Rafuni, Director, Association for Disabled Kosovo Liberation Army Veterans
