Three Strategies to Become an Intercultural “Peace Agent”
In our increasingly globalized world, we often encounter individuals whose culture, background, and values are different from our own. It’s a true privilege to be surrounded by more than one culture, and as a result we have great social responsibility.
The abilities required to manage the demands between two or more cultures are what we call “Intercultural Skills.” Individuals with the skills to understand the codes of various cultures can serve as a bridge between diverse groups and become high-impact peace agents in society. This requires both wisdom and intentional action, and the following strategies are useful to grow these skills.
The first strategy is to actively and carefully listen to everyone we encounter, especially in intercultural contexts. In order to measure the impact of some action, it is important that we evaluate the situation and employ critical thinking. The second strategy is to patiently open the doors of communication. It’s important to take a step back and relate in the same “cultural language” of others in the group, because then we will be in a position to calmly and peacefully handle all the elements of the situation. The third strategy is to offer as much help as we are able and to contribute to the well-being of others in whatever way applies. Selflessness and a transformative spirit are essential for building relationships and productive intercultural communication.
There are many intentional steps we can take to become “Peace Agents” between cultures, and there is great honor in the ability to connect culturally to others and serve our communities. Any of us can be a tool to solve challenges on a local, national, and global level. For the benefit of humanity, it is worth reflecting on our mission to educate and give hope to others through our position as cultural agents. If we are intentional in our conversations and actions, we can meaningfully contribute to the prosperity and peace of our communities.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Dr. Veronica V. Herrera and was translated and adapted by Scotty Brown.