Violent conflict in India and what Peace Counts can do
[Translate to English:] Peace Counts in Delhi: Fototermin vor dem India Gate, u.a. mit Koordinator Tilman Wörtz (mitte li) und Uli Jäger vom Institut für Friedenspädagogik (mitte re)
India is a democracy, but that is not enough to guarantee peace. Violent conflict is ongoing in states including Manipur, Orissa, and Kashmir. For Peace Counts, it made sense to get involved on the subcontinent with peace education programs. In early March, peace activists and organizational representatives from four states were given an opportunity to get to know the methods and materials of Peace Counts, and in the past several months the "Peacebuilders Around the World" exhibit has been shown in Mumbai and in Manipur in the northeast. Workshops held in parallel attracted peace and human rights activists as well as students.
An August get-together assessed the success of the programs to date. The workshop was moderated by Tilman Wörtz of Zeitenspiegel with Jasna Bastic and and Nadine Heptner of the Institute for Peace Education Tübingen. Their findings: Each of the groups reported that its project was a success and expressed a wish to continue its involvement with the exhibit and the peace education workshops. The Delhi sessions concluded with a trainer-the-trainer workshop for 20 participants.
The Peace Counts exhibit materials are now available in Hindi, with plans in place to translate it into Oriya so that it may be shown in Orissa as well. If all goes well, the exhibit will soon be showing in Gujarat, Rajasthan.
The program's key partner is Bread for the World. Local partners include the Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) and Act Now For Harmony And Democracy (anhad). Peace Counts on Tour receives support from the German foreign ministry and the Insitute for Foreign Relations (ifa) program "zivik".