By Karuna Dayal
I take this very opportunity to share how an international collaboration and working with a diverse group of people at the Global Peace Festival Foundation (GPFF) brings a fresh perspective and very interesting areas for personal and professional growth. GPFF promotes and celebrates people and programs that contribute to reconciliation, mutual respect, harmony and cooperation among all people, as ‘One Family Under God’. Through partnerships around the world, GPFF programs and celebrations work to facilitate intercultural and inter-religious cooperation, strengthen families and communities, and foster a culture of service and peace. One of GPPF’s key initiatives is to organize Global Peace Festivals. These festivals engage diverse partners on a regional, national and local level in three key areas: social impact programs, a leadership conference, and a significant festival to celebrate efforts and achievements toward realizing the vision of One Family under God. The festivals amplify positive messages to the larger society. Additionally, GPFF offers opportunities to participate in Educational, Service and Development, Environment, Interfaith Partnerships and Conflict Resolutions, Family Strengthening, and Youth and Sports Initiatives.
GPFF’s efforts aims to increase the number and broaden the diversity of individuals engaged as active citizens. Our diverse society is based on individual acceptance and respect and an understanding that individuals are unique and different. Diversity includes race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, culture, age, physical ability and religious, political and other beliefs. Coming from India, I have been working, partnering and volunteering with some of India’s best Socio-Legal Non-Profit organisations such as Multiple Action Research Group, Human Rights Law Network, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement), International Justice Mission, Pravah and the Health Care Intelligence Forum.
Since workforce and network diversity is an important factor in organizational and team success, the formation and communication patterns of diverse workforce and networks are essential. Leading diverse teams requires balance of encouraging dissent and divergent thinking with building consensus through shared vision and values. A diversified environment honors individual’s personality and expertise and uses these as skills for understanding and solving problems. Working with GPFF is like coming out with all the true colors that you can splash and bring out creativity in promoting global peace & development!