Experiential Education in the Context of Environmental Peacebuilding - A Case Study of Tejedores de Vida in Colombia

Abstract: An innovative approach has emerged to consolidate peacebuilding efforts in conflict-affected context using experiential education with an environmental perspective. Yet, little research has explored the potentials and limitations of the intersections between experiential education, the environment, and peacebuilding. This study aims to analyse the primary challenges of experiential education in environmental peacebuilding (EP). Four key mechanisms in environmental peacebuilding are used as a theoretical framework, and the project Tejedores de Vida (TDV) (Weavers of Life) in Colombia is chosen as a case study based on a qualitative method using semistructured interviews of members of TDV. The findings reveal the main challenges are improving the environmental situation on a wider scale and building institutions to scale up the experiential education initiative for EP. Despite these significant limitations, experiential education in the context of EP is successfully contributing to rebuilding the social fabric in post-conflict Colombia. Creating trust and understanding as well as cultivating interdependence on shared environmental issues revealed to operate at least at the local level. However, there is also the challenge of maintaining these positives effects over the long term.