Stories About Peacebuilding
What We're Praying for This Week
Find out how you can help change the world in less than five minutes. »»
Restoring Peace in Kenya
Watch this video to learn how CRS helped support peacebuilding activities in Kenya when violence erupted after a disputed presidential election. »»
Witness to History, Compassion, Healing
After 26 years with CRS, Walter Blake shares memories and lessons learned in the field. »»
Rwandan Genocide Reawakened, Then Reshaped CRS
In the sobering aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, CRS rediscovered a gem and a path forward—Catholic social teaching. »»
Pope Benedict XVI in the Holy Land
As the Holy Father visits the land where Jesus walked, CRS shares Pope Benedict's hopes for peace. »»
Peacebuilding: Healing the Wounds of War
By bringing sides together, CRS helps groups in conflict break the cycle of war and poverty. »»
Villanova Educators Bring Home Lessons From Rwanda
Scenes of forgiveness and renewal following genocide in Rwanda offer powerful lessons for Villanova educators. »»
Kenyans Rebuild Lives After Election Violence
Community forums and innovative vouchers are helping Kenyans to rebuild social ties and peacefully return to farming. »»
A Future of Peace
With its values-based educational programs, CRS seeks to bring out the best in future Palestinian leaders. »»
Young People in the Holy Land
CRS helps Palestinian teens in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza look forward with hope. »»
Waging Peace in Southern Sudan
Government officials, parliament members and community peace officers learn valuable skills to break the cycle of violence across southern Sudan. »»
'They Think We're Crazy': Holy Land Peacemakers
A Palestinian and an Israeli who lost loved ones to the conflict share the stories of their pain — and their friendship. »»
Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia
Join people of faith across the United States, Canada and Colombia in the ecumenical Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia April 27-28. »»
A Better Road for Peace
Residents in southern Sudan are pitching in to clear a main road to support development efforts while fostering peace among communities. »»
From Sharpshooters to Soccer Diplomacy in Kosovo
Witnesses to bloody conflict when they were small children, Kosovo's youth are trying to bridge the ethnic divide that once tore their nation apart. »»
Photo Tour: Seeking Safety in Kenya
Thousands of families displaced by the post-election violence in Kenya are receiving assistance from CRS and other agencies. »»
2007 Year in Photos
Our year-end roundup salutes the work of our dedicated staff and beneficiaries, whose resiliency rises above the most challenging circumstances. »»
Finding Refuge and Hope in Kenya
CRS brings relief to thousands of Kenyans displaced by violence resulting from a disputed presidential election. »»
Aid Continues in Kenya
Post-election violence forced hundreds of thousands of Kenyans from their homes. CRS and Caritas continue to distribute supplies to thousands in need. »»
Letter From Bethlehem
There are carols and church processions at Christmas in Bethlehem. But there is also great suffering as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues. »»
Building A Future With Peace and Tolerance
Alban Mehmeti, a Kosovar Albanian, visited the U.S. with three other high school students to promote peace. »»
The Meaning of 50 Years
Nearing the third anniversary of the South Asia tsunami, CRS reflects on 50 years of work in Indonesia and the resilience of the communities we serve. »»
Congo: the Road to Recovery
Watch a video about peacebuilding and relief efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. »»
Martin Sheen, Ken Hackett Inaugurate Peace School
"The mandate is to change the world and that begins with ourselves," said actor Martin Sheen, who helped inaugurate a new peace studies school at University of San Diego. »»
Growing Up in Gaza: A Story of Perseverance and Hope
Born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza, CRS' field manager Omar Shaban shares his inspiration for life in this embattled land. »»
An Unpredictable Path
He lost his brother and his business in the Kosovo War. Today Petar Prica is working for peace in a land still divided by ethnic tensions. »»
Jamaican Youth Reach Out to Hurricane Victims
As Hurricane Dean blew over Jamaica, members of a youth marching band helped residents secure their homes and are now assisting in relief efforts. »»
Clinic, School Return to War-Torn Lebanon
A southern Lebanon community celebrates the reopening of a building destroyed by war, thanks to assistance from CRS and a local partner. »»
Paralegals Promote Peace in Northern Uganda
A network of 140 paralegal volunteers is helping northern Ugandans live in peace by mediating disputes in camps for displaced people. »»
Peace in the Holy Land: Investing in Youth Leaders
University students regroup for peace at a CRS youth leadership camp in Gaza. »»
Simu Malu: Finding Peace in East Timor
In Dili, East Timor, a place where thousands are displaced by communal violence, CRS is creatively fostering peace and mutual understanding. »»
From the Ashes of Conflict, Hope Blooms
A Lebanon community finds an oasis - and hope - in a CRS-supported park. »»
Kenya Opens Eyes and Hearts of U.S. Students
Students gain new perspectives on peace and justice through a visit to Kenya and CRS projects. »»
West Bank Students March to Call for Palestinian Unity
Students, teachers and parents in the West Bank held a candlelight march, calling for Palestinian unity. »»
From War to Fragile Peace
CRS' Tracy O'Heir reflects on the changes she has seen in South Sudan since the peace agreement was signed, and the challenges that still lie ahead. »»
Parish Social Ministries Director Visits Tanzania
Scott Cooper, director of parish social ministries for Catholic Charities in Spokane Washington recently traveled to Tanzania with CRS. »»
Hope in the Face of Violence
More than 3 million people in Colombia have been forced from their homes as a result of ongoing violence. »»
The Frontlines of Crisis in Sri Lanka
Over the past year, escalating violence in Sri Lanka has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and find refuge in the countryside. »»
Sudanese Aid Worker Unprepared for Survivors' Stories
Nothing could have prepared Huda Abbas for the stories she heard from the women forced from their homes by the violence in Darfur. »»
Conflicts Across the Horn of Africa
An arc of crisis is stretching across the Horn of Africa, from Mogadishu, Somalia, to N'Djamena, Chad. »»
O Little Town of Bethlehem
After a trip to the Holy Land, Elizabeth Griffin reflects on the impact of the barrier wall that divides Bethlehem. »»
Deja Vu As Humanitarian Situaion in Gaza Unravels
G. Jefferson Price III reflects on how conditions in Gaza have not improved since he was there 23 years ago. Instead they have become worse. »»
CRS Expands Operations in Lebanon
CRS is expanding its operations in Lebanon with the August 31 opening of a new office in Beirut. »»
Soccer for Peace
For the 13,000 people camped out at a school in East Timor to escape recent violence there, soccer brought something of a miracle. »»
Cyber Bridges: Quest for Peace
Instead of enjoying their childhood, many Palestinian youth, like Nicholas spend most of their time dreaming about living in a peaceful world. »»
A Personal Reflection From Rwanda and Burundi
Brian Backe, CRS director of domestic programs, was in Rwanda and Burundi during the twelfth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. »»
Center for Conflict Transformation & Peace Studies
Since 2000, CRS has worked with the Diocese of Damongo to implement peace programs in Northern Ghana. »»
What Is Dayton?
Sarajevan, Mira Mehmedovic, reflects on the nightmare of war and a decade of peace. »»
Creating A Culture of Peace
The Catholic Church in Burundi and the United States are working to develop culture of peace and reconciliation through Catholic Church structures. »»
Kicking Off A Culture of Peace
One of the first events to kick off the "Creating a Culture of Peace in Burundi through Catholic Church Structures" project was a soccer game. »»
The Min Tree
Through the Homeward Bound project, CRS is preparing young men for the challenges they will face when they return to their homes in southern Sudan. »»
Colombian Bishop's Visit Highlights Crisis in Choco
Bishop Fidel Leon Cadavid of the Diocese of Quibdo, Colombia spoke to CRS staff about the grave humanitarian crisis that Colombia faces today. »»
Bodega Ecumenical Prayer Vigil
On Wednesday, May 19, 2004, CRS participated in a vigil for peace honoring slain church workers Mario Calderon, his wife Elsa Alvaredo and her father. »»
Diocese of Quibdo Integrated Assistance Project
Since 1998, CRS has supported the Diocese of Quibdo, which provides a significant portion of the humanitarian aid in this isolated region. »»
Jesuit Mobile School for Peace and Co-Existence
The School for Peace and Co-Existence Program, is widely recognized as one of Colombia's most innovative grassroots peace efforts. »»
