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A few things about the Center for Peacebuilding
History & Context
After the Dayton Peace Accords were signed in 1995 much of the international community assumed peace had been achieved in BiH. Despite the presence of war, however, continued investment in peacebuilding work is paramount today.
Mission & Values
The Center for Peacebuilding (CIM) has been working for nearly a decade in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the motto “naš put je mir” (our way is peace).
Financial Reporting
Financial reports for this accounting period have been complete according to the Law of Accounting and International Financial Reporting Standards (MSFI and MRS).
Meet Our Founders
These guys started this game
Vahidin Omanović
Co-Founder and Co-Director
Vahidin is a professional trainer in nonviolent communication and conflict resolution. For years he believed that revenge would relieve him of his anger and heal the scars he carried from the war. However, from 1997-2002, Vahidin experienced a personal transformation while participating in interethnic dialogue and trauma healing sessions sponsored by an American organization; he found that reconciliation was the only way forward for his community and country
Mevludin Rahmanović
Co-Founder and Co-Director
Mevludin is a trained peacebuilder from the ethnically divided city of Prijedor. He received a diploma from the Theological School in Travnik as a Preacher, Imam, and Teacher. Mevludin’s work as a peacebuilder began in earnest when he became a father. “I can’t imagine that these same events could happen to my own children. Through this peacebuilding work, I will try everything to change our past for a better future.”
Team Members
These guys started this game
MICAH SINGLETOM
Loves to design interfaces and create amazing UX
SANDRA BOLDAM
Copyrighter by nature, gets creative with words.
CATHIE JONES
Photographer and video editor extraordinaire
MARK FAYDRIN
Creative Director, spends all day mixing concepts.
ANTHONY MYERS
He is the youngest Art Director in our company
STELLAN GIBBS
Has been for years a great source of quality ideas
Featured Projects
Our work
We are proud of what we do, because we do it with love. Over the years we started and completed a number of projects. Some of them are continuous like Peace Embassy and Peace Farm. Read about these projects in more details below.
Peace Embassy
In addition to current and ongoing programs, CIM has plans for growth and expansion in the coming years, which center primarily around the development of a Peace Embassy. The Peace Embassy will provide a much-needed secular gathering space for members of the community where tolerance and dialogue can be fostered.
Peace Farm
Establishing places where people have the possibility to meet and learn from each other, regardless of their perceived differences, is the main task of our Organization as we journey towards a more peaceful world.
Current Activities
Our work
“Harmonija”
Harmonija Interreligious Choir
The inter-religious and multi-ethnic choir “Harmony” was established in February 2012. It operates within the Center for Peacebuilding in Sanski Most. At the beginning there were 15 members, many of whom are still members of the choir.
Interfaith Peace Work
Interreligious Dialogue, School & Events
Center for Peacebuilding engages diverse faith communities and individuals to help rebuild the trust destroyed by the 1992-1995 war. Through education, dialogue, and trauma healing, CIM works to create a sense of tolerance and understanding among people of different faiths. Our work includes, but is not limited to:
International Peace Week
International Day of Peace
As part of a worldwide movement to celebrate the International Day of Peace (September 21st), we wanted to raise more awareness of the need for peacebuilding and interreligious dialogue activities in our local community, across Bosnia and Herzegovina, and internationally.
Truth, Healing and Reconciliation
Commission for Truth, Healing and Reconciliation
The Truth, Healing and Reconciliation in Community project aims to bring together community members who are ready to reflect on and process their past.
Peace Camp
Educational Program
In cooperation with and support by the Swiss organization called St. Katarina Werk, our NGO started an educational program called Peace Camp in 2004. These weeklong retreats bring together individuals from different ethnic backgrounds to meet and discuss taboo topics related to conflict in BiH.
Craniosacral Therapy
Trauma Healing
In Sanski Most, a large portion of the local population experienced trauma during the Bosnian War from 1992-1995. This trauma has a profound effect on victims lives both psychologically and physically. In this context, CIM therapists use Craniosacral Therapy to help patients relieve traumatic stress and its psychological and physical side effects.
Foreign Language Classes
Learn new languages at CIM
The foreign language program at CIM is a popular way for youth to develop marketable language skills, engage in intercultural exchange with foreign volunteers who teach the courses, and learn about the peacebuilding activities that we provide. In past we have organised courses to teach English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Arabic.
International Delegations
International Collaborations
We have been very successful in the past working with international delegations who come to learn about the roots of conflict in the Balkans, the break up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s and the current challenges in promoting justice, human rights and post conflict reconstruction and reconciliation. Members of these delegations are from all over the world and are generally connected to universities in the United States.
OUR WORK
Past Activities
BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER
The Big Brother, Big Sister project was developed by CIM in collaboration with a foster care home for young people from the village of Vrpolje, located 15 km from Sanski Most.
GLOBAL KIDS DELEGATION
GlobalKids is a non-profit organisation from the US, which aims to develop leadership, educational, media, and civil skills with youth from schools in underserved areas in order for them to become activists in their community…
DIALOGUE IS WHAT WE WANT
In 2002-2003, we ran a nine-month dialogue project to promote intra-Bosniak reconciliation with a group of people from Cazin and Velika Kladusa. We were amazed by their acceptance of the project and their willingness to heal themselves…
COFFEE FOR PEACE
We facilitate “kahva, kava, kafa za mir” (coffee for peace) meetings once a month. Coffee is an important part of our local culture, while the name of the gatherings – using three different words for coffee used by different etnicities.
OUR REVIEWS
What People Say
“Brizy is a front-end page builder where what you see is what you get. We designed it so you can be in complete control of your website. Just click, modify and watch the results. No more buffering – create, style and enjoy. Our user interface was built on React – the most efficient JavaScript library. We guarantee you will love the difference in performance.”
JASON SWARTZMAN
Designer & Editor