This page offers information about Shanti Kendra, The Peace Centre, and the present state of the buildings. Photographs are shown at the bottom of the page.
Centre for Peace and Development Studies (CPDS)
The Centre for Peace and Development Studies (CPDS) commonly known as the Peace Centre came out of the working experiences of Gono Unnayan Prochesta (GUP). Gono Unnayan Prochesta (in English, People's Development Efforts) is a Non-Governmental Organization supported by Quaker Peace and Service (QPS) which began its work immediately after the war of liberation in 1971 in response to the need of the war-affected people in Bangladesh. Initially it focused its activities on the socio-economic uplifting of the poor and marginalized people through various integrated activities that have led to positive and sustainable changes in the lives of its target beneficiaries. However, it has faced numerous problems while working for social justice and human rights. This experience convinced the team members to initiate an intensive study of the root causes of malaises such as poverty, injustice, violence and other issues that hinder peace and harmony within the community. It was through these understandings and convictions that the Centre for Peace and Development Studies (CPDS) came into being in 1982.
CPDS is located at Khalia - a typical village of rural Bangladesh 250 km south west of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, with its beautiful gardens, fish ponds, dairy, library, residential accommodation and training venues. It attracts numbers of peace activists from various parts of the country and all over the world. Being a congenial place CPDS offers a series of training courses to rural women and men from all walks of life. A number of national and international NGOs, operating in Bangladesh, use CPDS for their staff training and retreats. Students and teachers of schools, colleges and various universities come to CPDS for field visits and experience.
The vision of the Peace Centre
To create conditions whereby people become non-violent and actively act for the promotion of thought and actions at personal, family, community, national and international levels in such a way that justice, peace and harmony may prevail in the society.
Objectives
Creating public opinion in favour of peace, disarmament and options for alternatives to military services.
Inculcating the spirit of volunteerism and the dignity of labour in individual and community life.
Training individuals and groups for non-violent solutions to conflicts and on culture of peace.
Initiating actions and researches for identifying the sources of conflicts in the society and assist actions for the establishment of a just and equitable social and economic order.
Building networks for universal brotherhood and understanding.
Past Activities
Since its formation in 1982, CPDS has been organizing various kinds of peace promotional activities. Some programmes are organized on regular basis, such as Volunteer Placements, Work & Study Camps, Training / Workshops / Seminars, Dishari Shishu Kendra (Primary School), Peace Library, organic farming, plantation and gardening, visitors/ experience visits etc. Volunteers from various ethnic and national and international identities participated in the activities of the peace centre.
Besides regular centre based activities, CPDS in the past has organized many activities of a national and regional nature. Some are mentioned here:
In the year 2000, in observance of the International Year for Culture of Peace, an international seminar entitled, "YOUTH FOR PEACE" was organized at the peace centre where youths from 12 counties participated.
In the same year, the Peace Centre, along with the Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) and in partnership with faith communities, people's movements and like-minded networks, organized an "INTERFAITH CONFERENCE ON CULTURE OF PEACE" at Dhaka.
In 2002, in collaboration with Quaker Peace and Social Witness (QPSW), the peace centre hosted the regional workshop on CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION IN SOUTH ASIA. Participants from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan participated in this regional Workshop held in Dhaka.
Present Activities
The Peace Centre is now actively involved in developing LOCAL CAPACITIES FOR PEACE networks with local NGOs by encouraging indigenous culture andtradition promoting peace. The elements of unity are explored and nurtured in and through acquiring inspiration from the indigenous cultures and traditions
Another very important activities is organizing 'Study Circles' involving the grassroots community members. The aim of the study circle is to facilitate people of various professions and backgrounds at the grassroots levels to discuss their day-to-day problems and issues for which they can find solutions by themselves. The study circles of 12 to 15 people later join together to turn into Forums centring on issues such as Civic Rights, Dispute Resolution, and Democracy Education etc.
In the recent years the Peace Centre has been maintaining close relationship with the 'Peace and Conflict Studies Department' of Dhaka University. Through joint collaboration, publication of posters and periodicals are undertaken highlighting the issues of peace and justice.
Since 2004 the Peace Centre along with other partners of Christian Aid has been organizing Cultural Exchange Programs between the Adibashis and the mainstream Bengali communities to develop better understanding. In 2004 and 2005, the cultural team from Khagrachari and Cox's Bazaar visited GUP and the Peace Centre and exchanged views and performed cultural activities with the Bengali communities in and around the Peace Centre. The exchange visit for 2007 will take place in November. The cultural team from the Chakma community will visit Rajoir under the cultural exchange program.
On the regional level, Peace Centre is actively involved in promoting peace issues in SAARC countries. Peace Centre was actively involved in the process of formation of the recently formed South Asian Peace Alliance (SAPA). The other organizations to which peace centre works maintaining close collaboration are:
Service Civil International (SCI)
Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Dhaka
Bangladesh Inter -Religious Council for Peace and Justice (BICPAJ)
Partners of Local Capacity for Peace Initiative in Bangladesh lead by CCDB
Quakers Peace and Social Witness (QPSW)
Coordinating Committee for Human Rights in Bangladesh (CCHRB)
Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN)
South Asia Peace Alliance (SAPA)
The facilities of The Peace Centre
The photos beneath show photos of the present facilities at the Peace Centre. Many of the buildings were, perhaps appropriately, part of a Hindu temple area, so date to pre-partition times.
The Peace Library at Shanti Kendra (left) and the stage (right)
The Peace Centre facilities are used by children for educational work (left and below right), and for performances (below left)
Many of the buildings are deteriorating to a degree that will shortly make them unserviceable (left and below)
(left and right) The Peace Library is in a particularly parlous state
