Category: News

Water Crisis Declared in Mindanao Officials of Butuan City in restive Mindanao have declared an unprecedented “state of water crisis” after more than a month of severe water shortage that has affected the lives of the more than 200,000 residents. As the story reports, this crisis was brought on by the last natural disaster that… Continue reading Water on our Mind

New Generation of Leaders in Colombia Offers Hope This story about the emerging leaders in Colombia, reminded us of how the best opportunities for ending the conflict—and healing wounds left behind—lies with young people who have lived through the violence and best understand the solutions.  As the story reports on one group in particular making… Continue reading Youth Movement Key to Ending Conflict in Colombia

Pope Francis Supports the Peace Process in Mindanao Although scheduling constraints prevented a direct visit to the Southern Philippines, Pope Francis made it clear that he endorses the ongoing peace process between the government and the Philippines’ largest organized armed group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).   This came as very good news to… Continue reading Pope Francis and the Philippines

Six New Studies Point to the Inflated-Promise of Microcredit in Transforming the Lives of the Poor We just became aware of this report, which compiles comprehensive research critical of the standard microcredit model.   Economist Esther Duflo of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a co-founder and co-director of J-PAL, co-author of the India and Morocco… Continue reading Studies Show Microcredit Shortcomings

There has been a flurry of reports since the Lord’s Resistence Army commander Dominic Ongwen surrendered to stand trial for war crimes during his time with the the LRA. This story suggests that Ongwen surrendered at least in part, to avoid being killed while still at large in the bush. More background on the personal… Continue reading Latest on Surrendering LRA Commander

Next week will mark the 5th Anniversary of the Haitian Earthquake. Although in and of itself this is a sad occasion to have to commemorate, today we were reminded of the many glimmers of hope to build upon, while speaking to our Global Associate from Port-au-Prince, Malya Villard-Appolon. While reflecting on this anniversary, Malya discussed… Continue reading As We Approach An Important Anniversary

As we begin the new year, we take notice of fresh reports coming out of the Central African Republic (CAR) on the increase of child soldiers being recruited into the armed conflict during the last calendar year. Both this story from the Reuters Foundation and this one from Humanosphere, tell the concern of the year-long… Continue reading Alarming Numbers from Central Africa

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has made a distinction between ‘recruitment’ and ‘choice’ by many children ending up as armed combatants, especially in regions like the eastern DRC. Of course, as this article points out, ‘choice’ has to be severely qualified when it comes to children being aware of ‘informed consent’.  But the… Continue reading ICRC Points to Effectiveness of Psycho-Social Training

The organization that met with much scrutiny for its Kony 2012 campaign to raise awareness of the horrors of the LRA and child soldiers in Uganda, has announced that it will be ending their US operations in 2015. This interview in GOOD Magazine offers a balanced perspective with one of the founders of the organization… Continue reading Invisible Children and its longer-term effectiveness

We like stories like this from Colombia that illustrate the power of reconciliation and forgiveness. Hector Perea and Jhon Obando were once on opposite sides of the armed conflict between FARC and the government paramilitary. But in their personal journeys to escape the violence they grew up into, they found themselves working side-by-side at a… Continue reading Sworn Enemies Show Path to Peace