‘Wisdom Partnership’ describes our relationship with Nepali peace workers. We share practical wisdom towards creating and restoring cultures of peace. Subhash from Kathmandu sought help to nurture the peace and nonviolence movement in Nepal. He invited the Alternatives to Violence Project to Nepal in 2008, and Friends Peace Teams responded beginning in September 2012. Onward, our relationships expanded from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Morang, Hetauda and Surkhet. We reached communities, public schools, university, civil organizations and refugee camps to reduce violence and create cultures of peace. From the beginning, we have met challenges as they arise and discerned ways to reach out to vulnerable people, such as public school teachers and students, people from various castes and classes, refugees, victims of human trafficking and natural disaster.
We visit with people committed to peace, and their communities, to share our concerns for peace and to mutually discern practical ways to increase peace and nonviolence. We believe in building healthy, long-term relationship with people from different countries, communities, backgrounds and capabilities so that we know each other better and can resolve our conflicts as they arise. We facilitate peace workshops and camps to share tools and practices for a culture of peace in local peace leaders and communities through experiential learning process. We offer basic and advanced Alternatives to Violence Project workshops to teens and adults in various topics like empowerment, trauma resiliency, developmental play, liberation from oppression, discernment, and the Power of Goodness, especially for kids, their teachers and parents.
We offer attention to citizen leaders committed to peace in their homes, communities and societies and support them to respond to their calls as they arise in their communities, such as workshops, travel and translations. Though it is not our main priority, we have responded with financial resources after the devastating situations of natural disasters like the earthquake in 2015 and massive flooding in 2017. These natural disasters severely affected the people and communities we had built relationship with and knew their real life situation.
As it is said, the nature and characteristics of a nation’s’ leadership and the political parties is the reflection of its people and the society. If it is so, the Nepalese people and the society seriously need to unlearn violence, discrimination, privilege and prejudice; and learn fundamental ingredients in creating culture of peace. For this, each individual is required to know the language and practice of peace and nonviolence in private and public life.
The ten-year Nepal armed conflict ended in 2006 leaving in its wake poverty, corruption and political turmoil. Despite very few political changes like from Hindu Kingdom to Secular Federal Republic, the justifications for armed conflict, such as multi-layered discrimination, violence, privileges, prejudices, criminalization and degradation of politics remain the same, even deeper and wider in some cases. Although, the war gave raise and voice to marginalized groups calling for equality, it also, sadly, established violence as a new normal in Nepalese society.
Despite rich culture and natural beauty, underlying violence based on caste, class and gender continues. Violence in schools is also a particular concern, both between teachers and students and among students. The ancient caste system and patriarchy reinforces societal violence and oppression. This deeply-rooted caste, class and gender based violence, make privilege and prejudice so rampant and powerful that sometimes it feels like we are still living in medieval and feudal era! The society is so nice for few, and too traumatic for many, it not most. The effects of trauma permeate Nepali society.
The country is further devastated by the 2015 earthquake and 2017 floods. Human trafficking thrives within and beyond the country drawing victims from throughout the country. Beatings, although now illegal, have been part of the school system and continue. Teachers have not been adequately trained, culturally as well as skillswise, in how to maintain discipline without resorting to violence. Landless and land poor people struggle against discrimination and generations of oppression in the caste system. Creating cultures of peace and nonviolence requires pervasive personal, communal, professional and societal change.
Recovering peace from this violent reality requires a long-term effort. Peace has not been and is not just a paper signed by the two warring sides, or projects designed to last for a few years. Peace is understanding, valuing and respecting others so that everyone can have equal dignify and fulfilling lives.
