Bridging Divides: Religious Peacebuilders Promote Inclusivity across South and Southeast Asia
USAID is empowering local religious and youth leaders to advance societal tolerance and pluralism
South and Southeast Asia are diverse and vibrant regions with many ethnic groups, cultures, languages, and religions. Three countries in the region — Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Burma — are Buddhist-majority countries that are vastly different from one another.
Yet they share a common thread: histories of intolerance against religious and ethnic minorities, as well as LGBTQIA+ individuals. While many civil society organizations and activists are working to address identity-based violence and hate speech, they often do so alone.
Recognizing the power of bringing these actors together, USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia started Networks for Peace. The effort engages and supports civil society organizations, activists, religious leaders, and influencers in promoting tolerance and fostering peaceful coexistence between communities from different backgrounds.
Out of Networks for Peace came Sangha for Peace, an initiative with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) that aims to build a strong regional network of peacebuilders from Burma, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, dedicated to promoting inclusive intra- and interfaith dialogue around these societal challenges. Here are some of their stories.
Creating a Ripple Effect in Thailand
In Thailand, a Buddhist monk and peacebuilder, Venerable Itthiyawat Suweerawarawut, was initially hesitant to engage with minority groups, including those of different faiths and the LGBTQIA+ communities. While he grew up in a diverse religious community in southern Thailand, his exposure to LGBTQIA+ communities and other faiths was limited.
Through Networks for Peace, he became an inspiring interfaith champion and humanistic educator, launching the Young Dharma Heirs project, which has trained 22 Buddhist monk teachers throughout Thailand in holistic education, interfaith tolerance, and engaging other religious communities.
He also teamed up with another Sangha for Peace member, Nachale (Hua) Boonyapisomparn, a well known LGBTQI+ activist, to develop a curriculum on LGBTQIA+ issues, justice, and equality to train Buddhist monk teachers to enhance their understanding and knowledge of gender diversity in their Buddhist class teaching.
Striving for Gender Equality in Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, two female peacebuilders from diverse ethno-religious backgrounds organized a workshop to highlight and acknowledge the valuable contributions of women who advocate for peace and justice around the region.
The event brought 120 female activists and female clergy together to discuss gender equality, peacebuilding, and social harmony. Specific sessions included women’s safety and security, legal protections, and empowering oneself through self-defense.
Today the Sri Lanka Network of Engaged Buddhism (SriNEB), which emphasized the role of both male and female monastics and peacebuilders to work together toward interfaith reconciliation, stands in solidarity with marginalized communities, and to promote a new narrative to mitigate growing polarization of ethnic and religious identities. By developing modules and dialogues in local languages Tamil and Sinhala, SriNEB works with faith leaders, lay activists, and local communities to build inclusive societies that address the needs of the marginalized.
Empowering Faith Leaders Through Dialogue in Burma
In Burma, the ongoing conflict continues to separate communities and limits opportunities for faith leaders to come together and develop a shared vision for peaceful transformation. Recognizing these challenges, USAID partners with a local civil society organization in Burma to bring together faith leaders and community members to foster a common understanding of the challenges affecting their communities.
Together, they explored how best to engage with other religious groups to promote peaceful coexistence in Burma and organized a series of dialogues, interfaith and interethnic engagements, training sessions, and exposure workshops.
These activities helped participants delve into the issues facing their communities, contributing to a deeper understanding of interfaith dynamics. For many, it was their first time interacting with individuals from different faith groups. As a result, faith leaders gained greater knowledge about various religions, strengthened their mental resilience amid Burma’s current situation, and enhanced their ability to reflect on their roles, as well as their limitations, as religious leaders.
USAID partners with faith-based organizations to advance shared priorities and maximize sustainable development and humanitarian assistance activities. In September 2023, USAID released its first-ever Strategic Religious Engagement policy to strengthen partnerships with faith-based actors.
This story is part of USAID’s Bridge Builders Story Series, which highlights examples of partnerships with faith-based organizations and religious communities that advance shared development and humanitarian objectives. To read other stories, visit the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships on USAID.gov.
About the Author
USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia’s Networks for Peace project works to promote religious harmony and amplifies moderate voices of peace and inclusivity in South and Southeast Asia.
