Imagine: Reflections on Peace
A Multimedia Exhibit
From June 2 through August 1, 2022, the U.S. Institute of Peace together with The VII Foundation presented “Imagine: Reflections on Peace,” a multimedia exhibit exploring the themes and challenges of peacebuilding through an immersive look at societies that suffered — and survived — violent conflict. Using historical photos, texts, video profiles and interactive opportunities, the Imagine exhibit brought visitors face-to-face with the realities of violent conflict and asks the question: “Why is it so difficult to make a good peace when it is so easy to imagine?”
TAKE A VIDEO TOUR OF THE EXHIBIT
Conceived and designed by the VII Foundation, the in-person experience gave visitors a chance to engage with the Institute’s on-the-ground peacebuilding work — as well as learn about practical actions they themselves can take to make the world more peaceful.
Public Event Series Highlighting Themes from the Exhibit
![Women rush to vote at a women's school early in the morning.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_with_box/public/2022-04/usip-viif-imagine-boulat-afg-event_0.jpg?itok=8Vhilz2B)
![Nedžiba Salihović and other Srebrenica widows celebrate the conviction of Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladić for his role in the 1995 genocide at Srebrenica. Salihović lost her husband and son in the massacre.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_with_box/public/2022-04/usip-viif-imagine-ron-haviv-bosnia-event.jpg?itok=lcAb6RTt)
BOSNIA, 2017
The hatred and barbarity that was to become normal during the years of this war began here: the banker fighting against the barber, the school teacher fighting against the grocery clerk. I was witnessing a complete breakdown of civil society.
![Khmer Rouge guerrillas in a remote village near Pol Pot’s base in Anlong Veng, northern Cambodia, 1990](/sites/default/files/styles/block_with_box/public/2022-04/usip-viif-imagine-gmk-cam-event.jpg?itok=78iJsSQ2)
CAMBODIA, 1990
![Peace demonstration at La Plaza de Bolívar, Bogotá. The peace treaty seeks to protect gay rights along with the rights of other minority groups. Opposition groups include Uribe’s conservatives, Catholics, and evangelists.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_with_box/public/2022-04/usip-viif-imagine-ferry-col-event.jpg?itok=fM87ubUK)
COLOMBIA, 2016
We simply can no longer afford to deny the full potential of one half of the population. The world needs to tap into the talent and wisdom of women. Whether the issue is food security, economic recovery, health, or peace and security, the participation of women is needed now more than ever.
![One of the byproducts of Lebanon’s 15 year civil war was Hezbollah, which emerged after Israel’s 1982 invasion and remains the last militia in Lebanon with arms. Hezbollah runs special cemeteries—some with their own Facebook pages—for its fighters, including several in Beirut’s predominantly Shiite suburb of Dahiye.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_with_box/public/2022-04/usip-viif-imagine-nichole-sobecki-lebanon-event.jpg?itok=U-vN8SnW)
LEBANON, 2017
![Schoolteacher Ruth Mukankuranga in a Kigali school today. Prior to the 1994 genocide, discrimination was taught as part of the school culture, written into school history books and perpetuated within the educational system.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_with_box/public/2022-04/usip-viif-imagine-jackpicone-rwanda-event.jpg?itok=FmRM4eme)
RWANDA, 2019
What becomes clear is that the signing of an agreement is not the culmination of a peace process. Indeed, it is only the beginning, for lasting peace is built by the people left in a ravaged country long after the peacemakers are gone.
![Fighters with the Free Syrian Army on the front line. With limited access to arms, FSA rebels resorted to making their own weapons. Aleppo, Syria.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_with_box/public/2022-04/usip-viif-imagine-ntung-syr-event.jpg?itok=SCFTkmyE)
SYRIA, 2012
![Refugees from Ukraine wait for a bus to continue their journey after crossing the Polish border at Medyk, Poland.](/sites/default/files/styles/block_with_box/public/2022-04/usip-viif-imagine-nabrdalik-ukr-event.jpg?itok=1uReyfaf)