Women PeaceMakers Program
Made possible by a grant from the Fred J. Hansen Foundation
The Women Peacemakers Program
Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
University of San Diego, California, USA
Fall Residency: September 14 – November 6, 2009
2009 Women PeaceMakers Program application period:
April 1 – June 1, 2009
For more details and the application see
http://peace.sandiego.edu/programs/women.html
What is the Women PeaceMakers Program?
Made possible through a generous grant from the Fred J. Hansen Foundation, the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice's (IPJ) Women PeaceMakers Program invites four women from around the world who have been locally involved in human rights and peacemaking efforts. Women accepted into this program are seeking ways to further their peacemaking efforts in their home countries.
Women on the frontline of efforts to end violence and secure a just peace seldom record their experiences, activities, and insights as generally there is no time, or, perhaps, no formal education that would help women record their stories. The Women PeaceMakers Program is a selective program for leaders who want to document, share, and build upon their unique peacemaking stories. Selected peacemakers will receive round-trip airfare, housing, and a small stipend to cover expenses for the eight-week residency in San Diego, California.
The residency program will require the selected candidates to give presentations at the IPJ and in the San Diego community, and to participate in documenting their stories through writing and videotaping their reflections. Women PeaceMakers will participate in dialogue groups and workshops to exchange ideas and approaches to peacemaking and justice, increasing their capacity to further prepare them to participate in conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts and in post-conflict decisions-making. The program will provide each peacemaker with an assistant writer and film assistant to document her story. Each peacemaker will receive a small stipend to cover expenses while in San Diego and living accommodations at the IPJ's Casa de la Paz will be provided.
Applicants are invited to participate in a residency program for women engaged in peacebuilding and human rights. The Women PeaceMakers Program at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice (IPJ) involves learning, teaching, and taking the time to narrate a personal, unique story of peacemaking. Along with scheduled time when the Woman PeaceMaker will work in small groups and/or one-on-one with her peace writer, there will be programs in which she will share with others her experiences from her respective country and conflict setting with others. She will learn from and explore new skills and ideas with fellow PeaceMakers. Through better understanding of individual human rights advocacy and peacebuilding work, the program seeks to build greater cross-cultural understanding, and to document the challenges and successes of women who have been involved in peacemaking efforts.
Those who are accepted into the Fall 2009 program will be expected to spend eight weeks at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice (IPJ) at the University of San Diego in San Diego, California. Over that time, their experiences will include the following:
• Collaborating with a Peace Writer and film team to document personal stories through writing, video, and audiotape.
• Sharing experiences of peacemaking and human rights advocacy with the IPJ community of students and faculty through small group discussions and “Conversations” with Women PeaceMakers that are open to the general public.
• Participating in “Bearing Exquisite Witness: Artistic Tributes to Women’s Struggles for Peace with Justice” September 24 – 26, 2009, a three day event featuring award-winning films, visual arts exhibits and live performances by nationally renowned playwrights and musicians.
• Learning and networking through roundtable discussions, Women PeaceMakers will meet with local and national women leaders involved in human rights, political action, and peacemaking efforts, forming networks and gaining resources to be called upon for international peacemaking and post-conflict planning processes.
• Renewing personal commitments to their work and taking time to reflect in a safe and nurturing environment that promotes new learning and an authentic exchange of ideas.
• Additional activities may include visiting local governmental and nongovernmental organizations, guest lectures, and other public engagements.
Program Cost & Fellowships
There is no cost for participation in the Women PeaceMakers Program. The program will provide fellowships to four qualified applicants. This funding is to be used for 1) local transportation (airfare to and from San Diego provided); 2) living expenses (other than housing, which is provided); 3) incidentals. The Women PeaceMakers Program encourages applicants to seek supplemental funding from local sources, although the funding provided by the IPJ for those selected will be sufficient for the full eight weeks.
