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Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo's involvement with peace and reconciliation expands throughout
the African Great Lakes region. The University Chaplain, Daniel Masumbuko, co-leads seminars with theology students
that encourage attendees to examine how divisions persist after violence. Dialogue creates space to identify continuing
points of conflict and envision how to build trust beyond divisions. The Faculty of Theology emphasizes peace reconciliation
in its curriculum and participates in regional peace conferences.
Central to UCBC's vision for peace and reconciliation is the Christian theology of shalom. This idea is centered upon
bringing all of humanity, creation, and God into right relationship with each other. Thus, theology, the local community,
and environmental concerns are brought together into a space that can be discussed and engaged by all people as they seek
after lasting, deep peace.
The University's Institute for Integrative Research, focused on pursuing academic research agendas that converge with local
realities, examines power, conflict and post-war identities to produce recommendations on peace-building policies for North
Kivu. Integrating the community's perspective provides a contextual starting point for analyses of conflict and potential
reconciliation.
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