Hussein, a 23-year-old man living in a volatile region of Lebanon, is part of CRS’ peacebuilding programs for youth. Photo by Laura Sheahen/CRS

“I hated what happened…we knew two guys who died in Beirut. I don’t feel safe any more. I am not even worried about my future but about what will happen tomorrow morning.”

These fearful words by a 24-year-old man about last May’s fighting in Lebanon underscore the tensions that threaten this fragile Middle Eastern country. There are more than a dozen political parties in Lebanon, 18 religious groups, and involvement from other countries who see Lebanon as key to advancing their own interests. Too often ordinary Lebanese feel powerless before their own political leaders and those of other countries.

Lebanon has been in the news a lot recently. In May, it chose a president after months of deadlock marked by assassinations and fighting. Last week, it named its government ministers after an 18-month standoff. This week, it exchanged prisoners with Israel, bringing some closure to the war of summer 2006. Everyone watching this complex, troubled land hopes it can overcome a decades-old legacy of violence.

With its peacebuilding programs, CRS is helping Lebanese communities to find common ground. In the south of Lebanon, where political and religious divisions among Shia, Sunni, and Christian groups have caused problems, CRS partners ask people from opposing factions to brainstorm projects everyone in a town can agree on. These “consensus building” programs focus on improvements like better water and electrical systems. In Minyeh, a poor town in the north of Lebanon, CRS works with local partner Na-am to teach young people in their 20s about good government. The young people ask their neighbors what would make their community better, and then work with town authorities and with each other to make it happen. Youth are having strong impact — in one town the adults have noted that the municipality picks up the trash more frequently now that the youth are more involved. Read the rest of this entry »

Debbie DeVoe, CRS’ regional information officer for East Africa, provides an update from her recent visit to Eldoret, one of the regions in Kenya most affected by the post-election violence.

Life for displaced families isn’t easy, as they now must rely on others for food, shelter, water, bedding and more. Photo by Debbie DeVoe/CRS

Yesterday, rivals President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga met for the first time since the disputed election in Kenya held on Dec. 27. The meeting and the mediation efforts of former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan are giving Kenyans hope that the crisis that has killed more than 650 and displaced more than 220,000 may soon end. Read the rest of this entry »

Conflict continues in Kenya over the contested win by President Mwai Kibaki over rival contender Raila Odinga. The crisis in Kenya is affecting people across the country, whether or not they have been directly touched by the violence.

In Nairobi, most businesses have reopened. For CRS staff, however, it’s far from business as usual. Debbie DeVoe, regional information officer for East Africa, sat down with John Katunga, regional technical advisor for peacebuilding and justice, and Peter Kimeu, regional technical advisor for peacebuilding, global solidarity and justice, to learn more about the reflection sessions they have been holding for staff.

The conference room was packed with staff who value the opportunity to come together to address and reduce any tension. Photo by Debbie DeVoe/CRS

Kimeu: Kenyan hearts are bleeding, and CRS staff hearts are bleeding too. We need to reconcile as members of the CRS family so we can provide the emergency response required. By bringing the staff together, they can share their feelings with each other and listen to one another.

Katunga: What has happened in the country can’t be isolated. CRS employees in Kenya are a microcosm of society, and as Kenyan society is divided by the crisis, it affects our staff.

These meetings provide a framework for staff to vent their frustrations and their feelings. By coming together, people realize how what they are saying and how they are acting are affecting others. People need to be able to say “I’m not happy about what’s happening” without saying “I hate Kibaki” or “I hate Raila.” We need to learn ways to express ourselves without antagonizing others.

Kimeu: We asked staff to write on cards how the conflict has changed their working relationships. Many of the cards have the same message: “I’m hurt. I’m scared. I don’t know how to approach my brothers or sisters anymore.” By bringing these issues to the table, we can help people listen to one another.

Katunga: These days every word can be interpreted differently. Take the word “justice.” It no longer means the same thing for everyone. Through these reflections, we are giving staff the opportunity to examine how their emotions and beliefs have been affected by the situation to improve their working relationships.