John Monahan, director of The Mosaic Institute, will visit Oslo to share his expertise on diaspora engagement in the Canadian context. What are the opportunities and challenges in Canada, and what lessons can be drawn from these experiences in Norway? His presentation is entitled: 'The Mosaic Model: Engaging Diasporic Canadians in the Promotion of Peace at Home and Abroad'. He will describe his own Institute's particular approach to involving diasporic communities that have connections to entrenched conflicts overseas in initiatives designed to promote peace and social cohesion, both in the region of origin and in Canada. In particular, he draws on work with young adults of Tamil, Sinhalese and Muslim Sri Lankan background.

Marta Bivand Erdal, senior researcher at PRIO, will act as discussant. Marta has conducted extensive research on diaspora engagement, and has worked with Pakistani as well as Sri Lankan communities in Norway.

This seminar is co-hosted by the Migration Research Group at PRIO and the Embassy of Canada.

Program

08.30 Breakfast and Coffee

08.45 Welcome (Cindy Horst)

08.50 The Mosaic Model: Engaging Diasporic Canadians in the Promotion of Peace at Home and Abroad (John Monahan)

09.15 Experiences from Norway (Marta Bivand Erdal)

09.30 Questions and Discussions

10.00 End of seminar