Apply now! International Summer School on Pluralism and Development

As part of the Promoting Pluralism Knowledge Programme, Hivos supports this Summer School for young academics and civil society activists from India, Indonesia and Uganda. Are you interested in learning more about human development theories? Did you always lack the time to reflect on your own work in development? Are you curious how you can contribute to the Promoting Pluralism Knowledge Programme? Apply now for participation in the Kosmopolis Summer School!

Bridging theory and practice. Summer School participants reflect on month of learning and engagement

What happens when a group of Indians, Indonesians, Ugandans and Dutch – as different as can be - are locked up in a classroom for a month to talk about identity, religion, human rights and development? Read how it had an impact on how people think, work and relate to their social and political environment after going back to normal life – one month after the Yogyakarta Summer School.

How I see the Uganda riots

‘My argument is very simple, by virtue of demographic dictates; any development discourse that leaves out the voices of young people is likely to backfire’. Ambrose Kibuuka, linked to the Pluralism Knowledge Programme through the Yogyakarta Summer School, argues for more serious engagement with Ugandan youth.

Muslims need a secular state

Sudanese thinker Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na`im has presented his thoughts on Islam, secularism and his own concept of civic reason during the Hivos-Kosmopolis Conference ‘Promoting Pluralism through Civic Reason? Rethinking Secularism’ May 2009, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Feel free to read through the essence of his presentation – reworked for the purpose of this discussion - and provide your comments below!

Yogyakarta Summer School is blogging

Sixteen students and civil society activists from Indonesia, India, Uganda and the Netherlands are studying pluralism, human rights and development at this years Kosmopolis Summer School in Yogyarta, Indonesia. The course is part of the Promoting Pluralism Knowledge Programme. Follow their track by reading this weblog and watching the video log on Holland Doc.

Chaikhana goes digital: Central Asian blogs collected

How does architecture reflect a national identity crisis in Kazakhstan? How is the mundane politicized in Uzbekistan? Was Kyrgyzstan's famed “Tulip Revolution” really much of a revolution at all? These and other questions will be put forth in `CyberChaikhana: Digital Conversations from Central Asia`, a book project by Neweurasia, Central Asia's largest online network of citizen-generated media. The project is supported by the Promoting Pluralism Knowledge Programme.

Women in the Arab Region are heard

The struggle of women against violence in the family is becoming more visible thanks to coverage by openDemocracy. With funds of the Promoting Pluralism Knowledge Programme, this global current affairs platform has produced radio documentaries about the Arab women's movement 'Karama'.

Who is afraid of Religion?

Religion is a vital source of inspiration in many societies. Development cooperation, however, mostly works through other channels than religion. This symposium investigated whether this should change. The event was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ISS Chair of Religion and Development, held by Prof. Gerrie ter Haar. Members of the panel were among others Islamic reformer Tariq Ramadan, liberal rabbi Awraham Soetendorp and Hivos' pluralism programme co-chair Ute Seela.

State must be secular so that society can be religious

In many parts of the world religion is on an upsurge. Religious revivalism and emergent forms of fundamentalisms challenge the capacity of the state to deal with religious diversity. The Hivos-Kosmopolis conference 'Rethinking secularism' (25-26 May, Utrecht, NL) brought together academics, activists, legal experts and policy makers from various parts of the world to debate the future of secularism. Among them: Sudanese thinker and activist Abdullahi An-Na'im and Justice Aftab Alam, sitting...

Homophobia in Uganda: Documentary screened at Hivos-conference in The Hague

LGBT’s in Uganda suffer from a coalition of religious leaders against homosexuality. The documentary 'Victor and Georgina' by Amakula shows the life and work of two transgender activists in that country. Their portrait demonstrates the difficulties for homosexuals in the Ugandan society, ranging from verbal and physical abuse to prosecution.