The Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) partnered with Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) to deliver a two-part workshop series led by Rotary Peace Fellow and organizational harmony specialist Meltem Kilicaslan Greisman on July 22 and August 5.
The series explored how peacebuilding can begin with everyday interactions and develop into intentional dialogue spaces that build trust, understanding, and connection across differences.
How to Be an Everyday Peacebuilder
The first workshop challenged the idea that peacebuilding is only the work of professional mediators or those working directly in conflict settings. Meltem emphasized that anyone can contribute to peace through intentional choices, relationships, communication, and constructive approaches to conflict.
Participants explored practical skills including self-awareness, pausing before reacting, asking open-ended questions, deep listening, perspective-taking, and creating a sense of belonging. The session also introduced the idea of “multiple truths,” recognizing that people may hold different emotional and lived experiences of the same situation. Rather than viewing conflict as something to avoid, participants considered how it can become an opportunity for learning, growth, and stronger relationships.
Designing Dialogues That Transform
The second workshop built on these individual practices by focusing on how to create spaces where meaningful dialogue can take place. Participants experienced dialogue through interactive exercises and explored the conditions needed for productive conversations.
The session emphasized that transformative dialogue does not happen by accident. It requires intentional design, active listening, curiosity, respect, shared airtime, and a willingness to explore the needs and experiences beneath people’s positions. Participants also explored the different purposes of dialogue, debate, meetings, and other forms of communication, highlighting the importance of choosing the right approach for each context.
A key message was that creating a healthy dialogue space is a shared responsibility. Facilitators can establish the conditions, but everyone participating contributes to maintaining an environment where different perspectives can be heard and collective understanding can emerge.
Connecting the Practice to Peacebuilding
Together, the workshops reinforced an important principle at the heart of CCSD’s work: sustainable peace is built not only through formal peace processes, but also through the everyday ways people communicate, manage differences, build trust, and create space for others.
These practical approaches support CCSD’s commitment to strengthening locally led peacebuilding and the capacity of Syrian civil society and communities to engage across differences and contribute to more inclusive and peaceful societies.
Watch the full recordings: View the workshop recordings
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