By Andrew Syed
A bit of vulnerability here. To be deemed irrelevant might be my greatest fear. From my earliest memories, I wanted to be involved in stories, movements, efforts and initiatives that matter. I wanted (and want) to live a life of relevance. I want to be surrounded by people who feel the same way. Like most people, I want to matter. For me, that pursuit has not stopped with the immediate people in my life. It has taken me around the world.
The vision and mission here at The Conflict Center remains relevant for the times we live in. All of us still need the skills and practical tools for peaceful and meaningful conflict navigation. The voices out there that believe that violence and separation are the only mechanisms available for peace are simply wrong. As we witness yet another war – a conflict between nations who both seem bent on the elimination of the other – we are all reminded once again of the desperate need for peaceful and effective solutions that don’t involve violence.
War is the inevitable outcome of conflict not utilized as an opportunity for connection. I believe we can do better. I know we have to do better. No one wins wars. There might be a victor, but no one really wins.
In my career I have worked on the ground in Northern Uganda, Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Afghanistan, all war or post-war environments that were steeped in a legacy of conflict turned violent. The story that I left with was a deep longing for a lasting peace. I’m also reflecting on a quote from a Ugandan mother turned global activist who campaigned endlessly for the release of her daughter and multiple other young girls from captivity. She said to me, “the absence of war is not the end of conflict. There is that inner conflict still going on.”
The work of The Conflict Center is central to our future. Its relevance remains paramount for peaceful communities, the health of our nation, and the future of our world.
Andrew Syed
Executive Director
The Conflict Center
