
We train local trustbuilders and give them tools to reconcile conflict and heal historical wounds.
80% of humanitarian crisis are conflict-related - The World Bank
Where trust is lacking, polarization tears communities apart. It fuels inequality and even seemingly minor disagreements can escalate into wide-scale violence. Our Trustbuilding Program helps communities in conflict to reconcile and create lasting peace from the ground up.
We train local trustbuilders and give them tools to reconcile conflict and heal historical wounds.
We enable all sides to speak their truth. Each project is locally owned and designed to increase social cohesion and equity.
Building trust is a long-term commitment. We transform individuals and communities, build up capacities and resilience to create lasting positive change.
At a time of increasing fragmentation, trust is diminishing around the world. Communities face racial and religious divides, intergenerational conflict, the rise of extremist attitudes, as well as social divisions and the legacy of war. These divisions not only tear apart communities, but also limit economic development and opportunities for the next generation.
Trust is the cornerstone to building lasting peace for generations to come.
Our work is transformational. We have a unique methodology that is rooted in our values, and has been successfully used for over a century. We link personal change to societal change. We enable people regardless of religious, racial, ethnic and political differences, build relationships and commit to working together for positive changes in their communities.
Situations of conflict are breeding grounds for lies, blame and bitterness. Solutions depend on bringing truth, integrity and trust into the situation. We inspire and equip people with the inner qualities, practices, and skills needed to build trust across deep divides by providing the tools needed to work together to find lasting solutions.
Peace and reconciliation depend on recognizing the historical wounds which created the conflict. We focus on healing the historical wounds which provoke the conflict, bringing all sides together in safe spaces to enable each side to see the situation as the other sees it. We bring trustbuilders who are succeeding in other conflict situations to share their experience to inspire participants to form relationships with others based on shared values.
The prime quality of trustbuilders is their own trustworthiness. This Program offers each participant a chance to examine their own integrity, and learn how to bring trust in a situation of mistrust, polarization, and conflict. We place emphasis on equipping the next generation with these skills and developing multi-sector networks for trust.
Awardee of the Intercultural Innovation Award 2021 by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations & BMW Group.
Hengi Bayat - Fundraising Manager
Rob Corcoran - Program Design & Training consultant
Manon Michelle Monhemius - Communications Officer
Talia Smith - Program Manager
Jessie Sutherland - Evaluations Consultant
Alena Vasilyeva - Program Assistant
Ron Lawler (Chair); Barry Hart; Imad Karam; Mediatrix Masava; Firyal Mohamed; Roweida Saleh; Shakiyla Smith (Fetzer Institute); and Alex Wise.
Talia Smith - Planning Committee Chair
Alex Wise - Fundraising Committee Chair
Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
Through addressing this goal, we play our part in the wider conflict prevention agenda.
The Knowledge Hub offers resources and best practices from the Trustbuilding Program and its project teams.
Fetzer Institute
Trustbuilding Program Founding Partner
MasterPeace
Mobilizing, inspiring and connecting talents for a sustainable future with less conflict.
The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers
Builds bridges between grassroots peacemakers and global players in order to strengthen the work done for sustainable peace.
ECOSOC
IofC International has special consultative status at the UN’s Economic and Social Council.
Council of Europe
IofC International has participatory status at the Council of Europe