Nick Chavasse - International Projects Officer

What motivated you (or your organization) to become involved in peace and conflict resolution?

The horrors of war, past and present, and the experience of war propaganda while living in Chicago, USA

Campaigning while living in the United States to end the Iraq War, and working for 2 years as Nonviolence Trainer delivering a National Nonviolence Training Program across the US. I became fascinated by the historical strategic utility of Nonviolence in bringing an end to violent conflict, and as a viable alternative to the use of military force. MLK's visionary "Beyhond Vietnam" speech was particularly inspiring in connecting internal racism with violence and militarism.

Please feel free to provide a short bio about yourself or the work of your organization (no more than 3 paragraphs)

Until 2005, I had worked in both the private and government sectors in the field of tourism marketing - the last 5 years with the British Government Tourist Office (VisitBritain) in Chicago.

After attending the Network of Spiritual Progressives Conference (www.spiritualprogressives.org) in Berkley CA, and taking the 10-day Nonviolence program with Prof Michael Nagler, I joined the Episcopal Peace Fellowship as National Coordinator for the Creating a Culture of Peace Program (CCP). Pace E Bene's Nonviolence Training Program was especially influential for me.

Based largely on Paulo Frieri's approach to education, CCP adopted a participatory approach to education in nonviolence, and in addition to teaching about nonviolence, also sought to empower communities to share their own knowledge and experiences, with a view to organizing collectively to take action on self-identified issues of peace.

Returned to the UK in 2007, where I now work as International Projects Manager for the International Peacemakers Fund with the Fellowship of Reconciliation - England, based in Oxford - which raised funds to support grassroots peacebuilding initiatives globally within the IFOR network (www.ifor.org)

Please list the countries and/or regions in which you (or your organization) have direct and significant expertise

United States of America, Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia, DR Congo, Kenya, Southern Sudan), Middle East (Israel/Palestine - West Bank), Pakistan (NW Frontier Province). In my current role, we have funded 30 different peace-building projects in 16 different countries.

What is your current country of residence (or location of your organization)?

UK

What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?

International Projects Officer - Fellowship of Reconciliation

What is your personal or organizational website?

http://www.for.org.uk/ipf

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://www.ifor.org

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://www.hrw.org

Which are your primary sectoral areas of expertise (or the primary sectoral areas of your organization) ?

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, Conflict Mainstreaming, Education, Gender, Organizational Development

Which are your primary skills areas(or the primary skill areas of your organization)?

Budgeting, Curriculum Development, Evaluation, Fundraising, Monitoring, Program Administration, Program Design, Program Implemenation, Training

What are some of your current areas of research (if any)?

In 2008, I completed a postgraduate certificate in Conflict Resolution Skills entitled - "An Analysis of the Historical, Political, and Economic Origins of Intrastate Conflict in the Zimbabwe Crisis, and their impact on Civil Society Peace-building Today." (Distinction)

I plan to take this on to a full MA in International Development in 2010.