Welcome to the e-learning journey of the Peacebuilding Fundamentals material!

Nearly everyone longs for peace. But how can peace take root when our daily lives feel overwhelmed by the lingering effects of conflict, loss, and past trauma? The path to resilience and recovery is possible, but it requires understanding and sensitivity to each person’s past trauma, combined with the ability to offer insight, coping tools, and a hopeful vision for the future.

Without these components, trying to build peace can feel like running in circles, never truly moving forward. This self-study course on Trauma-Sensitive Peacebuilding is anchored in these concepts and in the principles of justice and peace championed by Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Aimed at a diverse audience—students, advocates, partners, caregivers, and peacebuilders —it seeks to equip participants with essential insights and skills for fostering peace amidst the remnants of war and personal strife. 

Course objectives:

• Understand the impact of trauma in conflict-affected environments.
• Apply trauma-sensitive strategies in peacebuilding projects.
• Develop skills for culturally sensitive and empathetic engagement.
• Highlight trauma-sensitive program components that prioritize emotional safety through creating safe spaces and protocols.
• Commit to the inclusion of self-care in all peacebuilding projects.

The course will take approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete. Additionally, CRS offers a companion manual, "Finding Your Inner Strength," accessible for download here, which further supports individuals in their trauma awareness and resilience journey.