08 May 2012

In post-conflict situations, community involvement in peace building is fundamental to fashioning nonviolent, sustainable societies.

The process of peace building may include fostering cooperation and communication between different segments of society, re-establishing basic services and the rule of law, and boosting economic development. All of these activities help mitigate the risk of continued violence and conflict.

Effective peace building requires trust to ensure open dialogue between stakeholders, a sense of community ownership in the rebuilding process and feeling of self-reliance and empowerment among members of the community.

Civic engagement through channels such as volunteerism offers an essential mechanism for building trust.

Read Contribution of volunteerism to peacebuilding (pdf)