-
Colombia
Oscar Morales’ Facebook group "Un Millón de Voces Contra las FARC" mobilized 12 million demonstrators around the world in 2008 to protest the violent activities of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Related Article: People Use Social Networking to Fight Violence, Extremism -
Mexico
Street children are among Mexico's most vulnerable and often suffer from domestic violence. The JUCONI Foundation in Puebla has gone beyond merely providing them with care and support to reaching out to their families to try to address the core of the problem. JUCONI's approach shows a connection between domestic violence and chronic poverty.
Related Article: Mexican Organization Works to Counter Domestic Violence -
United States
Civic organizations like Reaching the Unreachable Outreach Ministry in the crime-plagued city of Baltimore are providing a drug-free, gang-free safe haven for children who would otherwise be left on their own. They also are helping former students resume their education and learn job skills.
Related Article: Community-based Groups Combat Crime in American Cities -
Sierra Leone/Liberia
Traditional reconciliation practices in Sierra Leone have been updated to bring communities back together following the 1991-2002 civil war.
Fambul Tok, run by American and Sierra Leonean nongovernmental organizations, has facilitated at least 40 reconciliation ceremonies.
Related Article: "Family Talk" Empowers Sierra Leone to Move Past Civil Conflict
In Liberia, community radio is being used to encourage reconciliation among civil war survivors who had been politically isolated. The Mano River Media Forum is giving "the voiceless a voice."
Related Article: Liberian Community Radio Reaches Out to Politically Isolated -
Sweden
In order to overcome misperceptions and prejudices between Swedes and the country’s Muslim immigrants, young Swedish Muslims began the Peace Agents group to help change attitudes on both sides through conflict resolution and dialogue.
Related Article: Swedish Peace Agents Combat Fear of Islam -
India
The Society for Promotion of Rational Thinking was founded in response to Muslim/Hindu violence in Gujarat that killed several thousand people in 2002. The organization first provided assistance to those affected by the riots, and then expanded its focus to educating youth from both communities to promote co-existence and prepare them for 21st-century careers.
Related Article: Reason Is Countering Religious Violence in India -
Timor-Leste
Once the scene of violence and internal displacement in 2006, the town of Bairo Pite reintegrated its sports facility and declared it a peace monument. Youth from the area volunteered their construction labor and created a safe gathering and recreation space.
Related Article: Timor-Leste Community Confronts Gang Violence Through Sports
