A mother and son who are a part of MCC’s Peacemaking efforts.

“For MCC, peace is not just a wish. It's our work. It's a conviction rooted in our faith and Anabaptist convictions.”-MCC Website

MODULE ONE: Introducing CAMPO AMOR

The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) was founded in 1920 by a group of Anabaptist Christians, (also known as the Mennonites), to provide food for families suffering from famine and disease in southern Russia (present-day Ukraine). They soon expanded their mission, and over 100 years later they are working for relief, development, and peace all over the world. MCC takes a three-pronged approach to change: relief, development, and peace. This case study focuses in on the Peacemaking efforts within MCC’s framework for transformation and change. 

Within their “Peace” efforts, MCC focuses on peacebuilding and peacemaking. In this case study wer are going to be looking at MCC through the lens of the “Do No Harm” framework, the Telos Principles, and UN principles of peace, we can further analyze the framework that is used on the path to transformation.

Examples that can be found of peacemaking that the MCC has highlighted on their website are promoting peace through strategies, and conflict transformation skills, addressing systemic injustice, facilitating relationship-building across divides, providing trauma healing, and providing resources on peace. Their focus is on providing training in these skills and providing local stakeholders and champions with the ability to do so as well. Per their website, thirty thousand people have been trained in conflict transformation, peacebuilding, and mediation strategies. Fifteen thousand have participated in peace clubs and education programs, and more than four thousand people have been trained in trauma awareness and resilience.

There are currently 431 clubs formed or supported by the MCC. The MCC also focuses heavily on peace and peacebuilding throughout their many publications  and resources. Their two publications (apart from their reports, webinars, and podcast, etc.) are Intersections and A Common Place. Intersections: MCC Theory and Practice is a quarterly newsletter that focuses on current issues in relief such as peacebuilding. A Common Place is a magazine that highlights stories from communities impacted by MCC. MCC’s publications emphasize the use of creative problem-solving and imagination in the formation of peacemaking efforts and focus on the community rather than the government when implementing these efforts.