THE STRAND — Volume 1, Issue 5
In an age of polarization and separation, THE STRAND is a newsletter about human connections, brought to you by Search for Common Ground.
A VACCINE TO END WAR
“What we are calling peacebuilding isn’t a set of ad hoc activities but a science. A proven method to make violence no longer an option. A vaccine to end war.”
— Lena Slachmuijlder at TEDx Youth
Watch: YouTube
CONNECTORS: DENIS
“I wanted former fighters like me to regain a sense of direction. I wanted to be an example; to show them that if I had gone through this transformation process, it was also possible for them to move forward.”
Read: Instagram
PEOPLE-POWERED SOLUTIONS TO VIOLENT EXTREMISM
In Kenya, military operations against al-Shabaab ended up alienating the local population and exacerbating divisions. A grassroots peace effort brought together citizens, police and army leaders, and the government to find a shared solution — and drive the region out of a crisis.
One of the leaders of that effort, Search-Kenya’s Director Judy Kimamo, tells the story of what happened to UN Global Dispatch.
Listen: Spotify I Apple Podcasts I Google Podcasts
CYBER GUARDIANS
At a time when hate speech proliferates on social media, 120 young Sri Lankans are becoming the country’s first youth cyber guardians. Their efforts protect communities from the real-world violence that dangerous online rumors can generate.
Read: Global Communities
