Over the past decade, Social Cohesion, Inc. has created positive social change for millions of people in Yemen, Uganda and in the former Yugoslavia. We have reached dozens of regions throughout Africa, South East Asia and Eastern Europe by developing transformation methods that support (1) Conflict prevention and management; (2) Social progress, especially in education, co-existence and tolerance, (3) Multi-ethnic societies; (4) Democratic governance and the rule of law; (5) Economic growth and development; and 6) Private-public NGO sector cooperation.
Our practice to engage local and regional experts has been of great advantage to our program beneficiaries, as these experts usually better understand local needs and environments, ensuring positive communication with all stakeholders and superior project outcomes. Social Cohesion, Inc., being a PROJECT BASED ORGANIZATION, has been able to accomplish these past initiatives with success and sustainability for each region.
Our principal goal is to assist the project stakeholders by providing them with the knowledge and capacity to ensure long-lasting and sustainable results. Being aware of the huge responsibility we have in institution-building through publicly funded projects, we support the change management processes in our country and region.
Ongoing Projects and Recent Funded Projects
UNITED STATES
• PROJECT: NY AMANI (NY ADVOCACY FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THROUGH MEDIA AND AWARENESS)
The AMANI project addresses the many social and psychological issues that have emerged as a consequence of the United States 12 years of the “War on Terror”. Also known as the “Global War on Terrorism,” this conflict is essentially an international military campaign focused on eliminating Al Qaeda and other militant organizations, and was started as a reaction to September 11, 2001. The conflict has been joined by the USA allies including the UK and a host of NATO and non-NATO affiliated nations. Ever since, the global struggle against extremism and terrorism has increased dramatically because of a series of incidents that have occurred in the US and worldwide.
FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA
Country Profile: Ethiopia, officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Wikipedia
Capital: Addis Ababa
Currency: Ethiopian birr
Population: 91.73 million (2012) World Bank
President: Mulatu Teshome
Official language: Amharic Language
Government: Federal republic, Parliamentary republic
Points of interest:
Lake Tana
Blue Nile Falls
Lake Assal
Simien Mountains National…
Ras Dashen
• PROJECT: INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTER FOR PEACEBUILDING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION (link to the College: http://eac.edu.et)
Social Cohesion, Inc. is currently assisting the Ethiopian Adventist College in the Horn of Africa to establish an Interdisciplinary Center for Peace-building and Conflict Resolution The overall goal of the EAC Interdisciplinary Center is to develop peace building and conflict resolution skills for the people of Southeast Ethiopia. The Center will primarily serve the EAC students, but will also seek to make a substantial contribution to peace building and conflict resolution primarily by providing a neutral platform for diverse regional actors and organizations in conflict resolution. Actors such as those from Somali, South Sudan, DRC, and CAR. The Center pursues these goals by providing training’s and through strengthening their capacities in conflict resolution, peace building and development by following these strategies:
Providing an environment in which students can explore the concepts and processes of conflict resolution, using this term in the broadest sense. In particular, courses will elaborate upon the relationship between conflict resolution, social change, and cultures of peace with examples drawn from the domestic and global levels.
Offering short summer courses intended to attract students from different major fields of study, as well as other interested colleges and schools in the region.
Offering a monthly film series on conflicts, domestic, regional and global, with an opportunity to discuss conflict resolution and mediation options after viewing and analyzing these conflicts on film.
Identifying internships/volunteer placement opportunities for students interested in pursuing further study and work in conflict resolution and mediation. Getting practical experience in conflict resolution holds value in a variety of work settings. Volunteer opportunities with non-profit or advocacy organizations in need of volunteer support can be explored.
The EAC Center will extend its courses and discussions to members of the larger community who show interest in the topic, such as government officials, and those who work with the police/legal/court system. The EAC Center can be used as a venue for meeting, networking and sharing between OROMIA regional and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region practitioners of conflict resolution and the Horn of Africa in general.
The Center consists of two projects: a Conflict Intervention and Peace building Support (CIPS) project, and a Policy Development and Research (PDR) project.
Contact Social Cohesion, Inc. for queries on how you can contribute or be part of this project. For the immediate query please call : (518) 280-9047
RECENT IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS
The Projects implemented more than five Years ago are not recorded in this webpage. We give a synopsis of programs/projects not older than four years, unless it is still being implemented by the Social Cohesion, Inc. home office:
REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
Country Profile: Yemen, officially known as the Yemeni Republic, is an Arab country located in Western Asia, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen is the second largest country in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 km². Wikipedia
Capital: Sana’a
Currency: Yemeni rial
President: Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi
Continent: Asia
Government: Unitary state, Presidential system, Constitutional republic, Republic
Official language: Arabic Language
• PROJECT: YOUNG YEMENI VOICES (Y2V Project)
Social Cohesion, Inc., in partnership with World Arts Access designed and implemented national scale media and leadership training in Yemen. In 2010-2011 RWB produced over 16 hours of social development programming, which was broadcasted daily to over 12 million Yemeni youth and adults. We also led media series promoting public forums/workshops which brought government, civil society, local Islamic and community leaders together for the purpose of improving local governance and increase awareness of Islam as consistent with human rights and democracy.
The funding provided by the U.S Government through the Embassy in Sana’a were used to initiate a media based intervention program targeted at youth at risk of becoming involved with fundamentalist groups. To date, this project has involved more than 3,600 Yemeni youth in maintaining politically moderate, inclusive and tolerant ideals. Episodes were run independently by youth through their own “Radio Shabab Net.”