Photo: Community members take part in guided discussions and trust building exercises during the three day training in Bara Chotrah

 

In rural areas, such as Bara Chotrah Village in Logar Province, formal justice systems are often out of reach. When disputes over land, water, or family issues break out, residents go to local leaders like Nazar Gul for help. But while the community trusts traditional influencers to intervene, they have long operated without any formal training in negotiation.

Recognizing this gap, through STFA’s joint programme, a three-day community dialogue session was organized. It brought together 50 participants, including tribal elders, youth, jirga members, persons with disabilities, and minority representatives.

The training focused on equipping community leaders with conflict resolution skills grounded in Islamic principles and local values. Through guided discussions and role-playing, participants learned mediation techniques and explored how both men and women can contribute to community reconciliation. The sessions addressed actual disputes affecting the village, giving attendees an opportunity to apply their new skills immediately.

“Before this training, I struggled to bring people together,” Nazar Gul recalled. “I didn’t have the tools to resolve conflicts peacefully. “Now I approach conflicts with patience and clarity; I feel equipped to help my community resolve issues without letting tensions rise.”

Malim Gul, a local teacher who also participated, commended the session. “We learned not only how to mediate others’ disputes but also how to handle our own conflicts with fairness,” he stated. “These are skills for life.”

Today, the 50 participants serve as peace ambassadors within their families and wider networks. By utilizing structured mediation, leaders like Nazar Gul and Malim Gul are not just resolving existing conflicts. They are preventing new ones, building a foundation for stability and social cohesion within their community.