Every year, as violent conflict occurs around the world, the field of peacebuilding and conflict management becomes more and more important. Peacebuilding is not just an important concept, it is also a profession, and there are increasing numbers of professional peacebuilders who dedicate their life’s work to resolving conflict all around the globe.
Some of the most common questions the Global Peacebuilding Center receives from students who participate in its educational programs are: “How can I join in USIP’s work? How can I make peacebuilding a career?”
Do you want to be a professional peacebuilder, or do you have similar questions? Do you have another career in mind that can also allow you to build peace? You can discuss these and other questions about careers in peacebuilding here!
Public Health and Peacebuilding
I think I would like to one day work in the field of public health. I know some public health official who go abroad to improve water quality in small towns and villages all around the world.
I used to see this as just public health work, but I also think projects like these that improve the lives of people can also be considered peacebuilding: they provide the basic necessities required to ensure health and well-being that ultimately allow folks to participate more fully in society. Public health work sounds like a career that also enables people to build peace!
Religion and Peace
Religious traditions have always been an interest of mine. Whether studying them or experiencing them in real life due to travels or through freinds of different religious backgrounds, I've always really enjoyed trying to learn and understand how adherents of different faiths see and understand the world.
Unfortunately, it seems like religion has just as much potential to cause conflict as it does to create peace. I'd be interested in working to use faith and religious backgrounds to promote peace--is this a theme or field in peacebuilding?