24.07.2017

First Summer School on the Holy Mountain

From July 17 to 28, 2017 the first summer school is taking place in the Evangelical Conference Centre on the holy mountain in Wuppertal. 25 participants from Africa, Asia and Germany attend the two weeks training addressing present day challenges of increasing racism, xenophobia and religious radicalization. During the summer school conflict management and human rights experts convey theoretical background knowledge concerning constructive conflict management including mediation and introduce concepts of human rights protection. The summer school deepens the interlinkage of human rights approaches and peace work. At the end of the training the participants analyze potential critical areas within their own communities and design a peace concept. The summer school bases on a participatory approach and offers an intense cultural learning experience for the participants by imparting theoretical knowledge, practical methods and techniques and the possibility to apply the knowledge by designing country-related projects. Also the members of the steering group came from Africa, Asia and Germany. The training is characterized by the special combination of the subjects protection of human rights and conflict management in intercultural contexts. The summer school is organized by Justitia et Pax, the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, Evangelical Church of Westphalia, Evangelical Academy Villigst, the West-Papua Network as well as UEM (and the UEM departments Africa, Asia, Germany, Evangelism, JPIC as well as Training & Empowerment). UEM plans to continue with the summer schools which shall focus each year on different subjects.  Martina Pauly