Sarah Louise Knoll's Page

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

I was born in South Africa in 1986. The untouched natural beauty of my homeland, and the diversity of cultures, ethnic people and languages, have instilled in me a genuine passion for the peoples of the world, and all they have to teach me. At the same time, exposure to the immense poverty, violent crime, and social instability left behind after a traumatic 50 years of apartheid has also given me an understanding of the depths of human suffering and strength of compassion. Having lived in Johannesburg during the turbulent transition to democracy, I have had firsthand experience in a volatile geographical region, and I have developed an understanding of the importance of peace to the well being of individuals and ultimate welfare of a nation. I believe that personal and institutional freedom, forgiveness and reconciliation, and empowerment that is beneficial to all stakeholders, are all important aspects in the peaceful progression of our human world.

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

With the realisation that our own freedom as individuals was restricted through violence, crime, and economic instability, we decided as a family to move to Australia in 2003. In 2007 we became dual Australian and South African citizens. Our migration was the greatest opportunity my parents have given my family thus far. Over six years of living in Brisbane, I have come to love another country as my own, and embrace a new and different way of life. Not only has Australia shown me the stark contrast between developed and developing countries, but also how a (relatively) conflict-free, efficient and uncorrupted governing system can provide almost unlimited opportunities and freedom for the citizens of the state to realise their potential.

In addition to completing high school and continuing on to a Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours at the University of Queensland, I have had opportunities to fulfil personal ambitions which have been an important part of my life. Establishment of a not-for-profit organisation, Handprints for Humanity, was my foremost endeavour to create a structured framework through which I could begin to have an impact on the world, upholding my ideals of empowerment, accountability, and sustainability. Work in the education and health sector with refugees in Australia, and humanitarian and research work in several African countries, has given me the privilege of making a positive contribution to society, and try to bring about change in a world which is shaped by the actions of the present.

My education in psychology has given me an in-depth knowledge of the human mind, in particular the intricacies of our cognitions, behaviours, emotions, and interactions with others. The ideological concepts endorsed by health and social psychology have furthermore exposed me to the potential for psychology and related disciplines to address the greater socio-economic, and psycho-social determinants of issues relating to health, poverty, and conflict. A compelling, grassroots illustration of the potential of psychology to effect change at a societal level is afforded by the example of a project I worked on in a Kenyan slum with a group of disenfranchised young mothers. High levels of poverty and disempowerment forced these women to engage in high risk-taking behaviours, making them significantly vulnerable to diseases such as HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence. Access to micro-finance and educational skills-training enabled these women to break out of the poverty cycle, gain access to business opportunities, and provide food and shelter for themselves and their children. An increase in self-efficacy and positive decision-making skills meant that women were no longer forced into sex work or the illegal sale of alcohol for survival. In terms of conflict resolution, psycho-social empowerment reduced their susceptibility to sexual violence and discrimination. Investigation of conflict issues and their inter-connectedness with health, economics, and psychological empowerment are essential characteristics of the work which I plan to pursue in the future, both in terms of research and applied interventions.

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

On-the-ground work:
South Africa
Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda

Program development through collaboration, proposal and grant writing:
Bolivia
Thailand

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

Australia/South Africa

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

Red Cross Community Health Researcher - Brisbane, Australia; research in Peace Psychology and Development

How many years professional experience do you have ?

3-5

What is your personal or organizational website?

http://www.aliamos.org / www.sarahlk.blogspot.com

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

http://bbcworldnews.com

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

http://zanews.co.za

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

Conflict Resolution, Development, Dialogue, Education, Health, Humanitarian Relief, Psychosocial, Refugees

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

Evaluation, Program Design, Research, Qualitative Skills

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

1. Community Resilience in Natural Disasters: Drought in Turkana region of North Western Kenya;

2. Peace Psychology: Children and Peace and Conflict

If appropriate feel free to list several of your (or your organization's) publications

I am currently in the process of working on two articles which will be published and distributed internationally.

- Christie, D., & Knoll, S. (in press). Children: Peaceful and Compassionate. In Christie, D. (in press). Encyclopedia of Peace Psychology. Wiley-Blackwell Publishers : MA.

- Knoll, S. & Roos, V. (in press). Community Resilience and Drought: Case Study of a Remote Community in Turkana Desert, North West Kenya. In Bretherton, D., & Ride, A. (in press). Community Resilience in the Face of Natural Disasters.