Beneficiaries of the program are of varying types, based upon the formation of the values, vision and skills of peace builders and Peace Bridges' strategies to mobilise them to transfer these values, vision and skills to others.
Type 1 Beneficiaries - Peace builders, women and men of varying ages, usually 25 years and up (a limit in age set by Cambodian key leaders) who are selected for long term trainings by their community, church or organisation in order implement peace building activities in partnership with Peace Bridges. This includes:
- 150 Cambodian middle level community or church leaders (60% male, 40% female) will undertake Empathetic Listening and Conflict Conciliation Training (ELCT). (Four units a month apart, each unit 3.5 days in length).
- 50% of this group of 150 will be selected for Intermediate Conciliation Skills and Basic Mediation Skills Training. (Six units, a month apart, each unit 3.5 days in length).
- All 150 trainees will attend Peace Education and Mobilisation Training. (Five days in length).
- 60 of the peace builders (50% men, 50% women) will have the opportunity to deepen learning with Peace Bridges Family Alternatives To Violence training program for 20 participants at a time. (Six units, a month apart, each unit 3.5 days in length).
- 40 English speakers, some Cambodian higher level leaders and some expatriates in positions of influence (50% women, 50% men) will complete Mediation Across Cultures. (Four five day intensives).
The beneficiaries of this second phase in Peace Bridges strategy is quite difficult to accurately estimate due to the dynamic and ongoing relationship- based nature of Peace Bridge’s partnerships with peace builders. Peace Bridges anticipates that:
- (Type 2A) 25 organisations will benefit from significant changes to staff job descriptions and related strategic plans. As a result, these organisations will transfer Peace Bridges aligned vision, values and skills within their organisational structures and through their circles of influence, directly benefiting 17000 people and many more indirectly.
- (Type 2B) 50 organisations will benefit from more skilled staff already focused on peace building activities, increasing their skills. This will result in increasing benefits to the thousands of people they serve.
- (Type 2C) 200 families, communities, churches and organisations will directly benefit from 200 peace builders who transfer vision, values and skills for peace making into the various networks in their circles of influence informally and semi-formally. This will include mediating and conciliating conflicts for fairer outcomes, deepening relationships and reducing violent communications. Hundreds more impacted by changes in vision, values and skills will transfer these onto others in their circles.
Type 3 Beneficiaries. – Community peace builders and beneficiaries of community peace builder interventions. Thousands will benefit from the transfer of values, vision and skills from peace builders to community peace builders. These community peace builders will then seek to do the same.
Type 4 Beneficiaries – Beneficiaries of Peace Bridges Conflict Consultation Service. 30 organisations or community groups will benefit from mediation, conciliation, facilitation, and prevention education aimed at enabling those groups to manage conflict challenges in a more equitable way.
The criteria for selection of direct beneficiaries vary according to type:
Type 1: The Peace Builders – The core criteria includes:
- As close to equal proportions of men and women as possible;
- Older than 25 years age;
- Potential for effective transference of KASH in their formal and informal circles of influence;
- People with medium to high levels of influence and respect in their communities;
- High interest from the peace builder and their partner organisation in developing strategic peace building initiatives within their organisation;
- majority from a Christian tradition, yet with a vision to serve people within & beyond the Christian community;
- a commitment to use peace building initiatives ethically, not as a tool for religious proselytising;
- Commitment to impact the poor in their communities;
- 40% from rural provinces, including economically disadvantaged communities;
- Interest to work in partnership with Peace Bridges within but also beyond their immediate circles of influence.
The criteria has been gradually developed by Peace Bridges in dialogue with a number of key focus groups and partner organisations, including key leaders in the churches and Christian development community as well as peace practitioners serving Cambodia and the external evaluators of our programs.
Type 2: Peace Bridges Partner Projects – Selection criteria varies based on the context, though in general the principles behind type 1 selection above are generally considered, with the exception (in most cases) of a need for a Christian majority. Peace Bridges always submits to partner preferences, working more in an advisory capacity.
Type 4: Peace Bridges conflict consultations are selected according to:
- Capacity of Peace Bridges staff or volunteer peace builder available to assist;
- capacity of the requesting body to access help elsewhere;
- levels of violence and how this informs the appropriateness of the intervention;
- needs assessment information; values and vision of the organisation;
- and time available (generally priority is given to developing peace builders).
