Seeking to promote peace in the region by creating space for learning peacebuilding and building networks among peace-loving people in Northeast Asia, Northeast Asia Regional Peacebuilding Institute (NARPI) hosts a summer training every year in August and provides a selection of six different courses and a field trip.
This year Mongolia hosted the training program from August 8 to August 21, 2015 in Ulaanbaatar, welcoming more than 60 participants from Japan, Korea, China, Canada, Kenya, Hawaii and Inner Mongolia. Professors from SIRPA, NUM D.Oyunsuren and G.Baasankhuu and Alumni of SIRPA M.Asem and G.Saruul who participated in previous training program held in Nanjing, China, have worked hand-in-hand to successfully host the peacebuilding training program for the first time in Mongolia.
In the first week of the training, participants attended courses such as Conflict and Peace framework, Theory and Practice of Peace education, Peacebuilding and Sustainable development, the second week courses included Applied Theatre in Peacebuilding, Restorative Justice: A New Lens for Justice, Conflict Transformation in Organizations. The courses were conducted and facilitated by experienced international professors. Additionally, some professionals of the field visited classes to share their stories and experience, which made the learning process more meaningful. For example in Peacebuilding and Sustainable development course, Oyu Tolgoi LLC lawyer Kh. Naranbulag acted as a guest speaker, and in the Restorative Justice course Ch. Erdene-Ochir who served 7 years of imprisonment due to the false charges, shared his life story reminding us all of the consequences of wrongful judicial decision.
One special feature of NARPI is that it organizes field trips to historically and culturally important places with the aim of promoting idea of Northeast Asia’s unity among the participants. During this year’s field trip, participants explored the culture and nomadic lifestyle of Mongolia by visiting historical places like Zaisan, Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex, Gandan monastery, National History Museum and a nomadic family in Terelj. They also visited and were introduced to the activities of Amnesty International Mongolia, Monfemnet NGO, as well as Fresh Water Resources and Nature Conservancy Center. One of the highlights of the field trip was a visit to the Political Victims Museum, which was a home to former Prime Minister of Mongolia- P. Genden who was falsely accused and executed for political reasons. Knowledge of the great damage to historical, cultural and ideological lives of Mongolians left deep impressions in participants. “It was a great opportunity to both discover Mongolia and receive peace education in the community of diverse backgrounds” –one participant says.
Since its process of establishment, professor D.Oyunsuren of SIRPA, NUM has been serving as a member of the Steering Committee of NARPI, and her efforts in promoting NARPI’s peacebuilding activities to peacebuilding NGOs, students and professors, and those who support peace in the Northeast Asia has resulted increasing number of participants from Mongolia. While overall number of 24 Mongolians participated in four previous trainings 13 participants from Mongolia took part in this year’s training.
NARPI made strong contribution to the advancement of peace studies in Mongolia by granting 100% scholarship to professors of SIRPA Dr. J. Battogtokh, G. Baasankhuu, Dr.S. Enkhtsetseg and graduate student Meqdad Salehi, professors of Ikh Zasag Law School Ch. Khandsuren and B. Dorjkhand, as well as M. Navchaa- doctorate of Liaoning University of China.
SIRPA granted a $500 scholarship to its top student for participating in NARPi, recipient of which was a junior year student majoring in International Relations-T.Tsogjavkhlan.