Caritas Launches Online Peace-Building Toolkit

Site Allows Global Sharing of Ideas for Conflict Workers

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ROME, MARCH 24, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Caritas is launching a Web site with resources for peacemakers, dedicated to Archbishop Oscar Romero.

A press release from the agency announced today’s launch of «Peacebuilding: Web Toolkit for Trainers.» The site is for facilitators, learning designers and other practitioners engaged in building peace, as well as for aid agencies working in conflict situations.

Patrick Nicholson, Caritas’ head of communications, affirmed: «It is the most comprehensive tool available on the web for designing peace building workshops. It gives trainers instant access to the information they need and provides them with simple channels to design better workshops.»

He added, «Although it will never be visible to most people, it is will become one of the building blocks on which a world with less conflict is achieved.»
With this free toolkit, trainers can put together customized workshops to fit their situations, choosing activities and learning tools written by worldwide experts.

The press statement notes that the toolkit has «content, activities and resources interlinked so that peace workers can surf through to develop quickly what they need,» also allowing them to «upload new resources, share and rate content, and take part in online discussions.»

Nicholson explained the inspiration for the site: «On March 24, 1980, Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador was shot and killed while celebrating Mass in a chapel near his cathedral after becoming an outspoken champion of peace, justice and human rights in El Salvador.

«His life and martyrdom has been an inspiration to the work of Caritas and beyond. Peacebuilding: Web Toolkit for Trainers is being launched on the anniversary of his death in dedication to him.»

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On the Net:

Peacebuilding Web site: http://peacebuilding.caritas.org/index.php/Home

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