Questions for Reflection

1) What type of conflict did Mohammed experience?

2) How did social/economic factors contribute to Mohamed’s decision to join the armed group?

3) How did political, religious, and ethnic division influence Mohammed’s choices?

4) How does this relate to Mohammed’s story?

5) Mohammed’s cousin Salif and Abdirashid had very different beliefs based on their faith – how can we counter messages of hate and ensure messages of peace and tolerance?

6) What are some of the passages or words found within different religions that confirm peace, love and tolerance above all?

7) How does this story relate to the real-life circumstance in our communities?

8) Abdirashid helped Mohammed – how can one person/one voice have such an impact? How can you use your own voice to encourage peace within your community?

Questions for Reflection

1) Is there a community conflict early warning alert system or group where you live? If so, how does it work? If not, how could one be implemented?

2) In Paulo’s story, many different kinds of people are part of the early warning group – why is this important?

3) Does early warning help prevent conflict escalating? How?

4) In the story, the community alert system includes response interventions – why are these essential?

5) Why would a particular area be known as a “recruitment location?” What strategies can be put in place to reduce recruitment risks?

6) Paulo mentions that lack of jobs and hope contribute to recruitment, why is this?

7) What kinds of “false promises” are used in recruitment tactics?

Questions for Reflection

1) What types of conflict has Miriam experienced?

2) What are the consequences of the conflict for Miriam, her family and the village?

3) Miriam recalls the attack dividing people. Why is it important to remain strong and united in the face of conflict? How can communities maintain solidarity?

4) Miriam is worried about who Salim is talking to – what could they be saying to convince him to join their group?

5) Salim is angry. Peace is absent from his heart. How is this affecting him?

6) What could happen if the conflict at home between Miriam and Salim is not resolved?

7) Miriam feels she can’t resolve the conflict with Salim alone – did she take the right step asking for help? How can Miriam and her Imam help Salim?

8) What do different faiths say about anger? About people who encourage anger and division? How can we use religious teachings to discourage anger and promote peaceful coexistence?

Questions for Reflection

1) Religious pluralism is about people of different faiths peacefully coexisting, recognizing, and accepting each other’s beliefs. What is the story shows the value of religious pluralism?

2) Accepting differences promotes social cohesion. How does Amade and his wife, Ana, help to promote social cohesion?

3) People of different religions, ethnicity, politics, and languages now live with Amade and Ana. What could some potential conflicts be and how can they be avoided?

4) Amade is disabled. Does his ability hinder him in any way from being a good leader? Are people with disabilities included in peacebuilding? If not, how can we intentionally increase their participation and leadership?

5) Amade says “I live by both God’s teachings and the Constitution.” What do different religions teach about tolerance and peace? What does your country’s constitution say about freedom of religion?

6) Salome is traumatized. How can trauma affect a person? Why is it important to understand trauma for peacebuilding and social cohesion?

7) Ana isn’t comfortable speaking at community meetings. How do we ensure that everyone is meaningfully included in building social cohesion, even if they do not want to participate in community meetings?

8) Religious intolerance created conflict in the building project. How does intolerance hinder progress in everyday life?

Questions for Reflection

1) How does the story show the value of religious pluralism?

2) Accepting differences promotes social cohesion. How do Amade and Ana, help promote social cohesion?

3) Amade says “Everyone comes with their own habits and customs.” How can religious, ethnic, political and other differences lead to conflict? How can people live together peacefully?

4) Does Amade’s disability hinder him in any way from being a good leader? Are people with disabilities included in peacebuilding? If not how can this be improved?

5) Amade says he lives by both God’s teachings and the Constitution. What do different religions teach about tolerance and peace? What does your country’s constitution say about freedom of religion?

6) Ana isn’t comfortable speaking at community meetings. How do we ensure that everyone, in all their diversity, is meaningfully included in building social cohesion?

7) Religious intolerance created conflict in the building project. How does intolerance hinder progress in everyday life?

Questions for Reflection

1) How can any person promote peace, tolerance, and social cohesion?

2) Alberto engages in interfaith dialogues in his everyday life and in the community. How are they both important?

3) Alberto says conflict in our lives/communities is “fuel for fires of violent conflict to burn hotter.” Is this true? In what way?

4) How can disputes between neighbors escalate to wider conflict?

5) What does it mean to ‘put yourself in someone else’s shoes?’

6) Discuss the different kinds of dialogue that happened in the story. What did you think was the most impactful? What would you have done differently?

7) Religion started to be part of land boundary dispute. Why does this happen? What could be potential consequences be? How can this be prevented?

8) What do religious teachings say about disputes, conflict, and conflict resolution? How can you integrate these in your own peace building practices?

9) What does social cohesion mean? How can social cohesion benefit everyone in the community?