Sacred Journey Peacemaking Innovation Fund Established

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Hartford International University for Religion and Peace (HIU), in partnership with Fellowship in Prayer, has established The Sacred Journey Peacemaking Innovation Fund at HIU. The Fund will be used to support individuals who are selected and successfully complete the University’s Master of Arts in International Peacebuilding. The awards will be made to support these individuals to continue their work after graduation as outlined in their capstone project.   

Hartford International University was recognized by Fellowship in Prayer because of the University’s longstanding and current commitments to peacebuilding. Last year’s launch of the MA in International Peacebuilding (MAP) inspired the grant of $25,000 designated to support students in the inaugural program. 

The MAP program at HIU is one of the most selective graduate programs of its kind in the country. For the coming 2022-2023 academic year, only 15% of applicants were admitted to the program. Students apply from around the globe and are selected based on their academic record, demonstrated leadership skills, and their commitment to spend a year in rigorous student and community living. These students receive a full scholarship as well as a living stipend.   

“Our peacebuilding MA students are global leaders,” said President Joel N. Lohr recently, “equipped though this groundbreaking program to blaze real paths to peace. We’ve probably all been skeptical at some point in our lives – maybe even rolled our eyes – about those who say it’s their life goal to bring about world peace. But never in my life have I met such a group of talented and exceptional students who are actually capable of, through their training and skills, making that happen. It is a unique phenomenon. I’m proud to be part of it, and deeply thankful to Fellowship in Prayer for their strategic investment.”  

A central focus of the intensive one-year program, beginning with the application process and developed throughout the course of study, is the planning of how the student will engage in peacebuilding within the setting where they return. This process is captured in a “Capstone Project,” which is reviewed and strengthened until the project is finally submitted at the end of the course of study. 

“The capstone is all about transfer. I am inspired by the plans students are making to bring their peacebuilding practice back home through the capstones they are designing. These span an incredible range, from interfaith dialogues about racism in South Africa, to fostering connections between Christian and Muslim children through libraries in Indonesia, to writing curriculum to develop resilience and communication skills for children in northern Nigeria,“ said Phoebe Milliken, MAP program director.    

Through the Sacred Journey Peacemaking Innovation Fund MAP students will receive support for their capstone projects in the form of a cash award. At a closing event on the HIU campus on May 19th, the awards will be presented to the students by President Lohr and Dr. Ephraim Isaac, a global leader for peace for over sixty years and board member of Fellowship in Prayer. At that time, a description of the students and their capstone projects will be distributed.  

About Fellowship in Prayer 

Fellowship in Prayer is a national nonprofit based in Princeton, New Jersey, whose efforts focus on strengthening, encouraging and supporting a spiritual orientation to life, promotes the practice of prayer, meditation, and service to others, and helps bring about a deeper spirit of peace and unity among humankind. Since 2015 Fellowship In Prayer has made grants and donations totaling $1m with particular focus on promoting peace and sponsoring religious leadership development, most recently in conjunction with the Hartford International University (HIU) and the Interfaith Youth Corp (IFYC). Learn more at https://www.fellowshipinprayer.org 

About Hartford International University for Religion and Peace 

Hartford International University for Religion and Peace is unique among theological institutions across the globe — both in approach and history. Founded in 1834, Hartford International has built an interreligious environment like no other and proven an ability to prepare leaders for the complex, pluralistic world in which we live. Learn more at https://www.hartfordinternational.edu