As you read this, there are more than 50 ongoing violent conflicts taking place around the world. Many of these are months-old. Some have been ongoing for years or even decades. Tragically, in America, we’ve seen dozens of mass shootings since the start of 2019, eight of which have been in schools. Beyond America’s borders, mosque […]
The team at the Open Hands Initiative is excited about the upcoming Salaam Fellowship on Conflict Resolution, which takes place this October in Morocco. Many people ask, why Morocco? At first glance, one might think that its beauty alone was a deciding factor. It is undoubtedly an “Instaworthy” locale–the iconic dunes of the Sahara, walled […]
In our first blog post in this Post-Conflict Colombia & Public Health project series, we shared our hopes for a brighter future in 2016. While the year has indeed been a tumultuous one, in some parts of the world there have been bright spots.
Just weeks ago, the Colombian Congress approved a revised peace accord between the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, formally ending more than 50 years of armed conflict and earning Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, the Nobel Peace Prize.
Open dialogue is a cornerstone of building trust and understanding as it provides a platform to share perspectives, exchange ideas, and bridge differences. For Héctor Abad Gómez, a prominent Colombian medical doctor, university professor, and human rights activist, creating a space to expand Colombia’s political and social discourse beyond the dominant voices of his time, […]
A friend recently sent me a photo of a menu board in front of a London restaurant, but instead of a listing the daily specials, it read, “All Americans must be accompanied by an adult.” I’ve had my fair share of overseas friends share their disappointment and befuddlement with the American people and our recent […]