Current programs:
1 ~ South Asia — Human Rights Education (HRE) Continuation:
India 2008-2010
This program builds on the Dutch government-funded HRE (Human Rights Education) trainings held in several Indian locales from 2005 to 2007 (see Report).
The trainings resulted in social workers, field activists, teachers, law students and animators working closely with grassroots communities. Potential therefore exists to take Freedom of Belief-related human rights education deeper into more communities.
Recent HRE programs
A summary of the HRE program's second phase, 2008 to 2010
2 ~ Philippines — Interfaith Village Project 2008-2010:
"Building Multifaith Village Livelihoods"
This program builds on the Dutch government-funded HRE (Human Rights Education) trainings held in several Philippine locales from 2005 to 2007 (see our Report).
Two factors helped determine our decision to support grassroots livelihoods in this way:
- The difficulty of promoting the concept of religious freedom alone, divorced from the day to day lives of village people; while many people are happy to get involved with livelihood-building programs to help others improve their quality of life.
- A revival of opinion in the IARF that in light of the global food, fuel and climate crises, our old SSN (Social Services Network) needs reviving.
This program therefore recognizes that respect for the right of freedom of religion cannot be simply requested of communities. Where there is poverty, conflict will follow existing social faultlines - if not wealth-based divisions, then religion-based. Or, a combination of these. Therefore with this pilot program, in communities where we are now known thanks to our previous work, we shall seek to support poverty alleviation at community level through projects that involve people of different faith working together to create and sustain livelihoods.
IARF HRE Trainings will therefore be continuing in the Philippines under a new method, wherein the local IARF members and training participants, in cooperation with the different faith communities and local government, help in implementing the project. Importantly, they have a role in making it a success, and it will give them opportunities to develop a positive relationship with one another.
Outline of the project - please see this document for more detail
Updates on the project
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