On June 5 – 6 the FriEnt Peacebuilding Forum 2024 took place in Berlin under the motto “Shifting Power in Peace”. It brought together hundreds of state and civil society representatives from all levels. The FriEnt (Working Group on Peace and Development) is an association of German governmental organizations, church development agencies, civil society networks, and political foundations. Once again, I was invited to the Forum, as representative of the international partner organization of the Brut for die Welt – one of the FriEnt eight members.
The Forum reaffirmed the commitment of peacebuilding communities to influence policy debates and strengthen peace narratives. It also provided great networking opportunities in a unique inclusive environment. The Forum underlined that the structural causes for the violent conflicts cannot be addressed with military means alone. Decisive action by the peacebuilding community and beyond is needed to build just peace. The YMCA remains committed member of this community.
Using the opportunity of being in Berlin, I also had a series of working meetings with our partner Brut for die Welt, including a specially organized plenary partner-talk on the YMCA Europe Roots for Peace. It was an honor having CVJM Germany International Secretary Gerhard Wiebe with me at that plenary. The working meetings were especially useful for the alignment of all the projects currently in process of implementation with Brut for die Welt funding partnership, namely: Roots for Peace, Camp Europe and Generation Next. There were also inspiring discussions about additional joint steps within or beyond those projects.
It was also great to have the chance of meeting with Leadership of CVJM Ostwerk (Alena Edler) and put the ground of the next Campacity to be held in Berlin, once again within the framework of our Camp Europe initiative. Tentative dates: April 7 – 13, 2025. There is clear enthusiasm within our German partners for hosting the event, and giving it that special touch that only Berlin can offer…
Yet the highlights of my visit to Berlin were the personal meetings and the time together with our Roots Peace Work Institute Alumni. It was such an honor and please to share the fellowship of our Mona Hein (PWI cohort 2) during the FriEnt Forum, yet especially witnessing her professional facilitation of one of its side-events at GIZ. What an impact story! The same goes to Syuzanna Galstyan (PWI cohort 3), spending good time as friends and colleagues always planning joint action together. It’s with Mona and Syuzanna, now as potential members of the Roots Expert Pool, that we are going to shift the power in peace.
Written by Vardan Hambardzumyan, YMCA Europe Executive Secretary
