Contact Information
- Where – Georgia
- Contact Person – Maia Shalashvili
- Email – iphdev.org@gmail.com
- Address – Varketili 3, I Microdistrict, building 37, aprt 12, Tbilisi, Georgia
Areas of Expertise
The Institute for Peace and Harmonious Development has expertise in a range of areas, including:
Main Aims and Objectives
IPHD mission’s is to promote peace education, conflict resolution and civil development on the local, regional and international level. IPHD works to encourage youth, refugees and other vulnerable groups to participate in peacebuilding, cultural, social and economic processes to strengthen their integration in society. IPHD also develop public diplomacy efforts, whilst engaging women and other focus groups in peacebuilding processes.
Upholding the Principles of Conflict Transformation
Georgia is a country that has experienced two wars during last 20 years, so we know the real meaning of peace. Here peace is not a noun; it is an aim and an action plan at the same time. IPHD believes that there is no alternative to peace, hence it works to provide stability and to assist the peaceful development in Georgia and Caucasus region.
IPHD uses different methodologies to address the prevailing needs and challenges. First, IPHD aims to transform society through peace education. IPHD is currently working on several project to enhance awareness of students, refugees, women and youth activists about non-violence, and the components and power of peace education. IPHD also strives to increase the participation of these focus groups in the peace-building processes. In other words, IPHD promotes public diplomacy efforts; making peace information available to a wider audience; cooperating with universities, organizing periodic seminars or cultural events, such as photo-sessions, meetings with prominent Georgian poets and writers. All these contribute to changing the attitudes of people and affect their behavior. Through these activities, IPHD hopes to create more a peaceful world, and help transform local conflicts.
Where and with Whom?
Currently IPHD has only local activities, performed in Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia)IPHD is planning to carry out some projects in different regions – primarily to engage regional youth and refugees in civil activities. From June 2012, IPHD will start a summer school for youth from Kakheti, a region in Eastern Georgia. IPHD also provides seminars for the students of Georgian Universities, such as Tbilisi State University, Ilia Chavchavadze University and Georgian Technical University.
IPHD is also working with different organizations in Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia to design common projects and to make a difference internationally. Each faces similar problems and should unite resources to reach a common aim – establishing peace.
Main Activities in the Field of Conflict Transformation
IPHD organizes seminars in Georgian Universities on different topics, such as:
- What is Peace?
- What is Non-Violence?
- Peace Economics
- Peace Organizations’ Successful Peace-Building Practices
- Transitional justice
To promote the inclusion of youth in public life, IPHD also arranges meetings of youth with contemporary Georgian writers and poets; organizes discussions on key topics related to literature, culture and art.
At the same time, IPHD works on the larger-scale projects, such as International Peace Academy, which will bring together peace leaders from various countries and teach them new concepts of non-violence and intercultural dialogue, whilst creating further cooperation opportunities.
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