Peace–Based Development Seminar to be held in Historic Sarajevo

There is a direct, significant relationship between peace and development. Peace is the finest fruit of social development, and true sustained development is only possible within the context of a culture of peace. The Peace-Based Development (PBD) Seminar, presented by The International Education for Peace Institute (EFP-International) and Education for Peace Balkans (EFP-Balkans), is offered within the framework of these over-arching principles.

Historic Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), offers an enriched environment for this training event with an opportunity for members of government, non-governmental organizations and others involved in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations an overview of the following principles and skills:

• The reciprocal relationship between peace and sustainable development;
• The principles and skills of peace-based leadership;
• The principles and skills of peace-based development; and,
• The application of the above principles and skill to the implementation of MDGs.

EFP–INTERNATIONAL and its sister institutes have as their main purpose the development and implementation of programs that foster a culture of peace and a culture of healing in communities around the world that are struggling to cope with the effects of conflict, injustice and violence. Through in-depth, systematic and sustained programs of Education for Peace (EFP), Leadership for Peace (LFP), Youth Peace-builder Network (YPN) and Conflict-Free Conflict Resolution (CFCR), every generation of new leaders and citizens is equipped with the necessary insights and skills to decrease the occurrence and intensity of conflict, to prevent its descent into violence and war and, more importantly, to dedicate its resources and energies to the creation of a sustained and progressive culture of peace.

Experience and insights gained from the implementation of the EFP Programs in BiH in the course of the past six years are reviewed as a case study and a model for creating other peace-based development programs during the seminar. The Peace-Based Development Seminar will be conducted by Dr. H.B. Danesh, author of the Education for Peace Program and founder of EFP-International; Dr. Roshan Danesh, author of Youth Peace-Builders Network (YPN) and Director of EFP-America; Invited guest faculty from UNDP and OSCE; and, the Faculty of EFP-Balkans.

Lectures, group discussions, panel presentations, school visits that include student presentations, and workshops for designing community–specific PBD programs will be utilized during this training seminar that takes place from 29–31 March 2006. Registration for this workshop is open to practitioners in the fields of peace-building, community development, and conflict resolution; staff and leaders from government organizations and NGOs; university students and academics; and those interested in learning more about this topic until 17 February 2006. Registration fees for the Peace-Based Development Seminar are €200 (€100 students and persons from developing countries). Visit www.efpinternational.org to register or contact academic@efpinternational.org for more information.