What is Shanti Mitra sangha?

Shanti Mitra Sangha was started at the initiative of MCC Bangladesh and the Brothers of Taize in Mymenshing, April 2007. It consists of over thirty volunteers and one full-time staff. All the members are young; most of them are still studying. Among them there are Hindus, Christians and Muslims – Bengalis as well as members of other ethnic groups. Shanti Mitra Sangha gathers once a month for reflection and planning, discussing peace related topics and sharing a meal together. The meetings always begin with a brief meditation, together with songs and readings from the different religious traditions. During the month, members participate in various activities or gather at the small office in Shanti   Nir    (“The House of Peace”) to prepare materials or simply be together.

What is Shanti Mitra Sangha doing ?

To begin with, the work was limited to the schools that the Brothers run in poor areas in and around Mymensingh. Members of Shanti Mitra Sangha went out to talk to the children about the nature of conflict, how to deal with emotions and how to work for a more peaceful environment. The work often included puppet show, role play and drawing. While this is still continuing, Shanti Mitra Sangha is now also accepting invitations to introduce Peace and Conflict. Resolution to the staff of various NGO:s, young people in college or High School and other groups. Another aspect of the work is translation of peace literature and the search from 2009, shanti mitra sangha has begun regular groups of sharing in order to stimulate reflection and analysis. In some groups, the theme will be drawn from a film or from a poem or story. Shanti mitra Sangha also wants to further develop its puppets shows, as this from of theatre is simple and much appreciated by children every where.   

What is Peace?

we mean so many things when we talk about peace. There is inner peace, peace between individuals, peace in society and absence of want. We sometimes want to define peace as the absence of violence. But peace is a positive, active force; it upholds a space in which life can grow and develop. It is not enough that there is no violence or no aggression of any kind. Where there is happiness and justice, there is peace. to work for peace is also to work for justice and trying to find the source of true happiness. this is what shanti mitra sangha- the Association of Friends of peace wants to do in different ways.