Resilience refers to the ability of individuals, communities, and systems to adapt, bounce back, and thrive in the face of adversity, challenges, or significant changes. It involves the capacity to withstand, recover, and grow stronger from difficult experiences, setbacks, or crises. Resilience is not a fixed trait but rather a flexible and adaptable quality that enables people to change their behavior and thoughts when needed. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), key factors contributing to personal resilience include one's worldview, the availability and quality of social resources, and specific coping strategies. Resilience can be categorized into different types, such as psychological resilience, emotional resilience, physical resilience, and community resilience.
In the context of URI's work, community resilience holds particular importance. Community resilience refers to the ability of groups of people to respond to and recover from adverse situations, such as natural disasters, acts of violence, economic hardship, and other challenges that affect the group as a whole. Real-life examples of community resilience include the resilience displayed by New York City after the 9/11 terrorist attacks or the citizens of Sarajevo who survived the longest siege of the city in urban European history during the war in the 1990s.
The Resilience Series, initiated in 2022 through the collaboration of URI Europe and Multiregion, started with successful workshops on mental health and personal peace practice, laying the foundation for a deeper exploration of resilience. Building upon this success, the regions developed an annual plan for 2023, encompassing various activities. These activities include a community call to promote engagement and learning, two workshops to equip participants with practical tools, and the development of a resilience-focused toolkit to support Cooperation Circles (CCs) in their efforts. The Resilience Series aims to empower individuals and communities within URI, providing them with the necessary skills and resources to overcome challenges and thrive in their interfaith peacebuilding endeavors.
URI recognizes the vital role that resilience plays in its purpose statement, and as it embarks on an exciting new phase of its work, the organization seeks to deepen its understanding and extend its impact on communities worldwide. By embracing the concept of resilience, URI aims to equip its network with the tools, resources, and support necessary to foster resilient individuals, communities, and societies across the globe. URI's commitment to resilience extends to engaging with existing efforts, offering support, and motivating the spread of impact and lessons learned.
Resilience Series Videos
What Does Being Resilient Mean To You
Our URI Network was invited to join the community call and share and listen to members of different Cooperation Circles and Individual Members discuss what resilience is to them and how their culture, faith, and context shape the concept of resilience.
Please click on the image above for the video or click here.
Individual Resilience
Our URI Network participated in an enlightening workshop in our Resilience Series: "Individual Resilience" with the renowned facilitator, Xoli Fuyani. In this session, we delve into the core of personal resilience, exploring how it intersects with community resilience within the URI network. Discover strategies, insights, and practical tools to bolster your ability to thrive in the face of adversity, empowering you in your interfaith peacebuilding journey.
Please click on the image above for the video or click here.
Community Resilience
URI Europe and URI Multiregion are delighted to present a collection of articles from Cooperation Circles, detailing their remarkable efforts in fostering community resilience.
The essence of "Community Resilience" lies in the sharing of uplifting practices and experiences by grassroots organizations, illustrating their journey towards building stronger and more resilient communities.
Please click on the image above for the video or click here.