Women PeaceMakers Residency Program

The Women PeaceMakers Program at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice (IPJ) at the University of San Diego in San Diego, California is a selective program that invites four women from conflict-affected countries around the world who have been involved in human rights and peacemaking efforts and who are seeking ways to have greater impact in peacemaking efforts in their society to participate in an eight residency at the IPJ. Women on the frontlines of efforts to end violence and secure a just peace seldom record their experiences, activities, and insights as generally there is no time, or, perhaps, no formal education that would help women record their stories. This program will also create a network of Women PeaceMakers who may become resources to be called on to serve in peacemaking and post-conflict planning processes internationally. The Women PeaceMakers Program involves learning, teaching, and taking the time to narrate a personal unique story of peacemaking. Along with scheduled time when the woman peacemaker will work in small groups and/or one-on-one with her peace writer, there will be programs in which she will share her experiences in her respective country and conflict setting with others. She will learn from and also develop new skills with fellow peacemakers. Through better understanding of an individual\'s experience, the program seeks to build greater cross-cultural understanding, and to document the challenges and successes of women who have been involved in peacemaking efforts.