Psychosocial Peacebuilding in Practice
Real-world programs, evidence-based research, and transformative outcomes across communities worldwide.
A Psychosocial Peacebuilding Project in Practice
Healing, nonviolent empowerment, and preventing extremism for children affected by armed conflict in Jordan and Lebanon — through a comprehensive, innovative, and sustainable psychosocial approach (2016–2019). Developed and implemented by IAHV with funding from the European Commission.
This project illustrates how the different components of IAHV's integrated psychosocial peacebuilding approach come to life in a real-world setting — and how the conceptual model is operationalised on the ground.
The aim was to facilitate the transformation of children and adults affected by violence, conflict, stress, and trauma into healed, resilient, and empowered actors of change — with the wellbeing, confidence, and skills to address the very driving factors of violence that caused harm in the first place.
SKY: An Evidence-Based Foundation for Peaceful Behaviour
Evidence suggests that SKY (Sudarshan Kriya) is an effective tool for establishing both a physiological foundation conducive to peaceful behaviour and a psychological state characterised by positive mental and emotional wellbeing.
The SKY technique employs distinct rhythmic breathing patterns designed to reduce stress, support the functioning of various bodily systems, modulate intense emotional states, and restore mental tranquility.
Published research shows that SKY practice significantly reduces stress, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, while significantly increasing wellbeing. Research has demonstrated that its effects extend to the molecular level, altering gene expression — which may account for the wide range of benefits observed.
To date, over 100 peer-reviewed studies conducted on four continents have demonstrated comprehensive benefits for physical and mental health.
Reducing Reoffending at the Root
The IAHV / Art of Living Prison Programme is an internationally renowned rehabilitation training that transforms the mindsets, attitudes, and behaviour of offenders — aiming to break the cycle of violence at its root and reduce reoffending.
Through a human-oriented, empowering approach, the programme has benefited more than 800,000 prisoners and staff in over 60 countries. Using advanced breathing techniques, physical exercise, knowledge, and skills training, offenders develop greater self-awareness, release negative emotions and accumulated stress, and are empowered to take responsibility for their lives.
By calming the mind and reducing the impact of stress, anger, depression, violence, and dysfunctional behaviour are reduced. Offenders become more receptive to rehabilitation, equipped with essential life skills, and prepared to contribute positively to society upon release.
Healing, Resilience, and Empowerment
Given the scale of natural and man-made disasters worldwide and limited resources, self-empowering psychosocial support is crucial to prevent long-term consequences, break cycles of violence, and strengthen individual and communal resilience.
The HRE workshop is a low-threshold intervention that provides participants with tools, knowledge, and skills to maintain and strengthen their own wellbeing — releasing acute stress and fears, improving sleep, raising energy levels, and calming the mind.
Key Features
- Scalable in the context of large-scale disasters
- Accessible and free from stigma for all individuals in need
- Grounded in evidence-based practices with demonstrated immediate impact
- Cost-effective relative to pharmaceutical or clinical interventions
- Applicable across diverse cultural settings
- Self-empowering — participants continue practising independently
The Peace of Mind Project
IAHV and the Art of Living specialise in supporting the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of refugees, war-affected populations, service providers, and mental health professionals worldwide. Their unique value lies in self-empowering methods, a scalable approach, an evidence base, and cost-effectiveness.
The Peace of Mind project has reached 3,500 children and 2,500 adults from Ukraine, strengthening their mental health and psychological wellbeing. Thousands of Ukrainian refugees across Europe have been empowered with practical tools to release stress, improve sleep, calm the mind, and increase energy levels — resulting in improved coping capacity, resilience, and a positive outlook.
The project has also supported hundreds of service providers and mental health professionals. Emerging from the traumas of war and displacement, 40 Ukrainian women have become IAHV workshop trainers themselves — empowered with the wellbeing, confidence, and skills to pass these techniques on to others in and outside Ukraine.
Putting the Human Being Back at the Centre of Peacebuilding
Psychosocial peacebuilding (PSPB) effectively engages with the deep, core driving factors of conflict, violence, and peace: transforming aggression, depression, trauma, division, and greed — while strengthening wellbeing, agency, hope, connectedness, and humanness. It strengthens peacebuilding potential and creates excellence at every stage. The resulting transformation is profound and sustainable.
This strong psychosocial foundation is the cornerstone and driving force for effective structural and systemic change, and for a more peaceful, just, and prosperous world.
The human being — both driving and being affected by conflict and violence — has been at the margins of peacebuilding for too long. The field of psychosocial peacebuilding addresses this gap, both as a conceptual model and a practical approach implemented on the ground.
"Peace building work can be so emotional and draining. With the SKY technique and the right skills, I am refreshed and good to go!"
IAHV offers a practical, evidence-based, and effective approach to transform the wellbeing, mindsets, emotions, and behaviour of all people involved in or affected by conflict and violence — including perpetrators, affected communities, and peacebuilding professionals.
Psychosocial Peacebuilding: A Guide into the Heart of Sustainable Peace
Available now — get your copy today!