For five years, the JISRA programme has brought together faith-based organisations, women, and young people to strengthen trust, build bridges, and promote peace around the world. Led by Mensen met een Missie and its international partners, JISRA worked in countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, and Indonesia to challenge harmful beliefs and promote dialogue across religious and social divides. As the programme concludes, Bea ten Tusscher, Dutch Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, reflects on the lessons learned and the hope she found along the way.
What has been the most inspiring or memorable moment in your journey with JISRA?
“One of the most memorable moments for me was during a side event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Several Kenyan organisations presented their work with young people and faith-based initiatives to counter extremism. I especially remember a charismatic woman who spoke with incredible power about how she helped boys and young men stay away from extremist groups. She drew on moral values, on religion, but also simply on being present and offering alternatives. What struck me most was the energy and hope she embodied. Despite all the challenges, she continued to believe her efforts could make a difference. I saw the same resilience in other JISRA partners, for example in Indonesia, where young people and women kept pushing forward despite adversity. Witnessing their determination made me realise: if you are looking for hope, you need to look to the Global South. In Western Europe, we have lost some of that resilience.”
Bea’s experience illustrates how JISRA supported local peacebuilders who use their faith and values to promote unity and resilience. Across different countries, the programme created opportunities for people to address conflict in practical, community-based ways.
Looking back, what do you see as JISRA’s most significant achievements?
“What JISRA has achieved above all is building trust between religious communities. That might sound abstract, but it translates into very concrete changes. I often think of an example from Ethiopia. In one village, electricity was only available for four hours a day and only for Muslims, not for Christians. Young people from both communities refused to accept that. Since they grew up together, played sports together, and went to school together, they decided to approach the mayor jointly. Eventually, electricity became accessible to everyone. These small-scale examples are actually very powerful. They prove that collaboration at the local level works. Change does not always need to be large-scale or dramatic, it often starts small and grows from there. For me, that is one of JISRA’s greatest achievements: showing how trust and cooperation can lead to tangible results.”
Stories like this show how trust between communities can translate into concrete improvements in people’s daily lives. Through JISRA, partners demonstrated that dialogue and cooperation are not abstract ideals – they can directly improve living conditions and relationships at the local level.
How do you see the role of faith-based organisations evolving in global peacebuilding?
“I am convinced their role will remain, and even grow. Around 85 percent of people worldwide are religious. Faith gives meaning, which makes faith-based organisations indispensable in peacebuilding. They speak the language of communities and therefore play a vital role in preventing and resolving conflicts. I have also worked to promote religious literacy, so that policymakers develop a deeper understanding of how religion influences societies. If we ignore these actors, we miss huge opportunities to be effective. The human search for purpose is universal, and I believe the role of faith-based organisations in peacebuilding will only become stronger in the future.”
Her reflections highlight how essential it is to recognise the influence of faith in societies. By involving religious actors and improving understanding of their role, policymakers and organisations can work more effectively in contexts where religion shapes people’s worldviews and choices.
What can governments, such as the Netherlands, learn from JISRA’s approach?
“The main lesson is patience. Peacebuilding cannot be confined to a strict five-year project cycle. It takes time and requires flexibility. We Dutch like to work in a linear way, but in other contexts the path is often less straightforward. Sometimes you end up in a different place than you planned, and that can be valuable. It is also about listening. Not telling communities what to do, but discovering together what they consider important. That requires dialogue on an equal footing. Finally, governments can learn from JISRA’s focus on women, youth, and minorities. Democracy is not simply the rule of the majority; it is about protecting minorities. JISRA demonstrates that when their voices are heard, a fairer and more sustainable foundation for peace emerges. That moral compass is at the heart of JISRA’s work, and it has inspired me throughout my forty-year career.”
Bea’s reflections underline that JISRA’s legacy goes beyond the programme itself. It leaves behind stronger local networks, improved understanding between communities, and lessons about how governments and civil society can cooperate more effectively for long-term peace.
