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ABSTRACT
This article explores recent research on uses of Do No Harm within faith communities. Drawing on case studies from Kenya, El Salvador, and the Philippines, the authors argue that there is an important nexus among conflict sensitivity, personal growth, and spiritual (trans)formation. The research focuses particularly on World Vision’s Do No Harm for Faith Groups (DNH4FG), a resource for introducing Do No Harm to faith actors within inter- and intra-religious settings. The authors conclude that the integration of DNH practice has significant potential to deepen and expand the work of interfaith cooperation and social action.
Acknowledgements
There are many people and groups that have contributed to our learning. In addition to those named throughout the article, we gratefully acknowledge Dilshan Annaraj, Kathryn Kraft, Bernard Okok, Hezron Masitsa, Patricia Morales Tijerino, Evelyn Tania Góchez, Davao Ministerial Interfaith, UJIFO, and the World Vision national and regional offices in El Salvador, Latin America Caribbean Region, Kenya, East Africa, and the Philippines.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 Garred facilitated the first workshop with WVES staff, who exclusively facilitated the latter.
2 Most Significant Change is a participatory narrative methodology for monitoring and evaluation. Participants and staff share the most significant change resulting from the project, from their perspective, and why. In addition to identifying unexpected changes, MSC elicits the values accorded to a given project by participants and staff. The external research team was composed of Johonna McCants-Turner PhD (principal investigator), Roxann Allen Kioko PhD, Amy Knorr, Andrew Suderman PhD, Andrea Moya Uruena, and research assistant Crisol Gonzàlez García. Internal data collection and analysis was carried out by WVES Emmanuel Program staff Karla Cañas, Oscar Flores, Ana Georgina Flint, and Abigail Ramírez, and WVES Faith and Development staff Silvana Audía, Rebeca Menendez, Edwin Míra, Jean Paul Ortíz, and Eric Basurto, with support from Kenia Rodríguez and Karen Hernández.
3 These domains of change are not exclusive of one another. Storytellers were asked to choose a single most representative domain.
4 DNH often increases awareness of familial tensions, particularly among faith actors. However, DNH was not designed for family contexts, so caution is warranted. Addressing serious family distress requires a different approach.
5 The external research team was composed of Johonna McCants-Turner PhD (principal investigator), Cecilia Mueni, Roxann Allen Kioko PhD, and Felix Kioko, with Millicent Otieno as research advisor.
6 Most focus groups and interviews were led by Kenyan members of the research team, and conducted in a blend of Kiswahili and English, with Kiswahili as the predominant language.
7 Faith leaders of various religions have been recognised as key contributors to violence against LGBT people in Mombasa, who have a high risk of being violently attacked. Human Rights Watch and Pema Kenya Citation2015.
8 As noted, intra-faith connection in each workshop was quite limited in the El Salvador case.
9 Fortunately, the subsequent Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (2014) has been more successful in creating the conditions for lasting peace.
10 This team was composed of Sister Joan D. Castro (team leader), Ustadz Ahmad Guinar Ampuan Al-Hadj, Pastor Rueland Badoy, Pastor Shirley E. Papio, Pastor Alan Richa, and Brother Salvador O. Veloso, Jr., with guidance from Pastor Ereberto Gopo.
11 Garred’s action research in Singapore paralleled the Mindanao process. It addressed a much newer application of DNH on a much smaller scale – but nonetheless provided a useful source of triangulation.
12 This article uses “DNH” terminology, but DMI uses “Local Capacities for Peace” or “LCP.”
13 Additionally, civil society is strong in the Philippines, and indigenous peacebuilding runs deep in Mindanao. Metaphorically speaking, DMI grew up in a “hot house.” For perspective on DMI within this context see Garred and Goddard Citation2010.
14 Key staff mentors included Herminegilda Presbitero-Carrillo and Bonifacio Belonio.
15 Early innovators included Chandra Mohan and Richard Devadoss (India) and Esther Silalahi (Indonesia), the consultant who went on to author the DNH4FG modules for WV. There are no doubt many others whose names are unknown to us.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Johonna McCants-Turner
Johonna McCants-Turner, PhD, is Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo.
Michelle Garred
Michelle Garred, PhD, is the Founder and Principal at Ripple Peace Research & Consulting LLC.