Our story so far…
Since 2018, MAP has been to working with young people, educators, cultural artists, civil society workers and policy makers to inform National Curriculum and Youth Policy using arts-based approaches for peacebuilding. Mobile Arts for Peace (MAP) is a practice-as-research project supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) through the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Founded by Professor Ananda Breed from the University of Lincoln, MAP works alongside partner organisations, including the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace, Foundation Tolerance International, Open University, University College London, University of Rwanda, Atma Jaya Catholic University, Tribhuvan University, UNESCO, Rwanda Education Board, Kwetu Film Institute, Mandala Theatre Company, Sana Initiative, Uyisenga Ni Imanzi, and Human Rights Film Centre to design and deliver project activities.
2018 – 2019
In 2018, MAP was launched in the Eastern Province of Rwanda working with five schools, ten cultural organisations, twenty-five educators, and ten young people to design and deliver the MAP methodology. Following the training events, youth and adult trainers extended the training to an additional 62 educators and 526 young people. Due to follow on impact funding through the AHRC, MAP extended to the other four out of five provinces in 2019 reaching 25 additional schools, 100 educators and 40 youth facilitators who will train an estimated additional 250 educators and 2,000 young people; potentially reaching thousands more through curriculum resources.
Monitoring and evaluation through surveys, participatory observation and interviews with participants and stakeholders has evidenced that MAP: a) significantly contributed to learning processes; b) empowered adult and youth trainers with public speaking skills; c) increased the academic performance of students; d) improved communication and relations between students and parents; and e) enabled participants to identify and address community-based issues.
MAP provides training and skill building in Music, Dance and Drama alongside the development of safe, inclusive and progressive spaces for dialogue, active listening, and shared problem solving for peacebuilding. MAP is also committed to integrating mental health awareness and support in all its activities, and works with organisations such as Rwandan mental-health focused organisations Sana Initiative and Uyisenga Ni Imanzi. Read more about the inception of MAP as part of a larger project entitled Changing the Story (CTS) in the Inception: Changing the Story page.
MAP contributes to my personal growth tremendously. There is a big difference between before and after engaging with MAP. Before being part of MAP, I was a very fearful person; I could not stand in front of people. After engaging with MAP, I feel free, I can stand in front of people and express my ideas clearly.
Sandrine, MAP Rwanda Participant
2020 – 2024
Mobile Arts for Peace expanded its work into a four-year international (2020 – 2024), multi-disciplinary project accross four countries: Kyrgyzstan, Rwanda, Indonesia and Nepal. MAP provides a comparative approach on the use of interdisciplinary arts-based practices for Informing the National Curriculum and Youth Policy for Peacebuilding. Each country has different histories and approaches to peacebuilding, yet all four have a rich tradition of using cultural forms for dialogue to exploring pathways to peace.
- In 2020, MAP methodology and manual were developed. It aimed to promote sustainable conflict prevention at the community level through a participatory theatre methodology called Drama for Conflict Transformation (DCT).
- In 2021, across the four countries, MAP began with curriculum workshops, co-designing the arts based methodology with cultural artists, and then developing a Training of Trainers with educators to adapt the MAP manual to local and regional contexts. Subsequently MAP youth clubs were established to work alongside adult educators in developing drama clubs, as a way to integrate the methodology into schools and youth organisations.
- In 2022, MAP small grant project funded 32 youth-led research project, two large grants were awarded to develop the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL). Read more about the early phase of MAP in Kyrgyzstan, Rwanda, Indonesia and Nepal.
- In 2023, eight medium grant projects and two commissioned projects were launched accross the four countries for young people to work alongside policy-focused organisations to explore arts-based communication structures.
Where we work
MAP works across Rwanda, Nepal, Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan. Read our country profile pages to find out more about each country, who we work with, what we do and relevant resources for local practitioners and policy makers. You can find out more about our previous work in each country by visiting these pages.
From policy papers to toolkits, our partners have developed and independently recommend a range of valuable resources.
MAP is made up of an international team that together co-devise, co-develop and co-deliver MAP worldwide.