WHAT MAKES PEACE DIRECT DIFFERENT?

Firstly, our focus is on supporting grassroots peacemakers local to the conflict with a clear vision of what they want to achieve. We don't develop and run our own programmes in conflict areas, our emphasis is on backing local people to do what they feel the situation needs, while trying to learn, with them, the lessons of success and of failure.

Secondly, a core part of our mission is to reach out to the general public. If people will give to human rights and to development, why not to peacemaking? By building a constituency among the general public who understand the alternatives to the use of force, we are taking the first steps towards arguing for a redeployment of part of the military budget.

 

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE PROJECTS YOU FUND?

It’s a good question, as there’s no shortage of brilliant initiatives, far more than we can support. It’s really two questions – first, how do we know what’s out there, and then, how do we make our choice? The Women's Escuela in Colombia, which is our third Champions project, illustrates how we’ve been working up till now. One of our long term supporters suggested that if we could find a Colombian women’s project in the field of peace, she and her community association would get behind it. We put out feelers to a wide range of people, from a member of Women in Black to a Colombian lawyer studying in the UK. Quite a number of organisations were suggested, which we researched through personal contacts and the web. In the Colectivo, we felt we had found a group that met our four main criteria:
· Commitment to non-violence
· A track record – they had been active for two years already
· A strategic view of how they could effect change
· A willingness to communicate.

We made contact in a fairly tentative non-committal way, but as the relationship developed, we felt more and more certain that they were the sort of group that would make good use of any funds we provided. The agreement was finally signed when our of our team made a site visit.

WHO SUPPORTS PEACE DIRECT?

An extraordinarily wide range of people in every age and income bracket. Some give financially, others get involved in helping us raise the profile of active peacemaking, and making the case for change to government and others. You can meet a few of them on our homepage . See:Get Involved

HOW IS PEACE DIRECT FUNDED?

Our initial funding came mostly from a relatively small number of committed individuals. We are now in the second phase of our development, seeking funding in addition from trusts and foundations, as well as members of the public. Our long term goal is to be supported mainly by a public supporter base. See:Finance

WHO RUNS PEACE DIRECT?

Our Trustees are chosen to provide the wide range of expertise needed by Peace Direct, in understanding of conflict and conflict resolution, communications and fundraising, and to help us to link to Government. See:The Board of Trustees

WHERE DOES MY MONEY GO?

We ask everyone who wants to promote a more peaceful world to support Peace Direct’s work, even in a small way. We need donations from the public to enable us to fund groups in appropriate ways – with small grants that do not distort their operations, on a long term and committed basis, and offering moral support and solidarity as well as money.

You can choose to fund the whole range of Peace Direct’s work – raising the profile of peacebuilding with the media and government, identifying new groups for funding, enabling people in the UK to learn from overseas work, and the administration without which no well run organisation can function. Regular gifts by direct debit are particularly welcome but many people find it easier to give one-off gifts from time to time.

Donate now

Alternatively, with a minimum donation of £10/month, you can help to support a particular overseas project, through the Champions Programme. Every penny you give goes directly to the overseas group, and you'll receive email updates about their work, their triumphs and challenges, giving you a window onto a world that is rarely reported.