Jackson Mendonsa

Peace-building - Qatar (Maghreb and Middle East)

Living in the heart of the Middle East, Jackson Mendonsa is no stranger to conflict. While acts of violence are not as prevalent in Qatar as in other parts of the region, Jackson remains cognizant of the social tension brooding within his society. For a country that is home to more expatriates than nationals, Jackson realises that such a strain on community relations tensions is inevitable. But despite the apparent hardships he faces, Jackson remains hopeful.

One of the root causes of this internal conflict is the clash of religious ideology. While Islam remains the state-sponsored religion of Qatar, the majority of expatriates living within the country observe dissimilar faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Despite the problems that arise from these opposing religious views, Jackson stays grounded by regarding such differences as a means to overcoming the divide.

"Religion is not a problem, but a solution and binding factor." But Jackson points out that in order for religion to become a unifying force, it first needs to be better understood. Only then will attitudes change. Jackson believes that exposure to diversity and opportunities for dialogue must increase. He plans to encourage cross-cultural and inter-religious studies to be included into the mainstream school curriculum, helping form attitudes at an early age.