Field Exercise Coastal Hope: Humanitarian and Peacebuilding Simulation for Professionals, Educators, Internationals, and Students, November 2-5, 2017, Fellsmere, FL, USA

By: David J. Smith, May 23, 2017

The Forage Center for Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Education, Inc. , a U.S. based 501 c3 not for profit, is delighted to announce that starting in November 2017 it will hold its annual field exercise twice per year, in March and November.   Formerly known as Atlantic Promise, the exercise is now called Coastal Hope.

The dates for the fall exercise are Thursday, November 2 through Sunday, November 5, 2017. It will be held in Fellsmere, Florida, USA.   The exercise scenario is premised on participants acting as members of a humanitarian NGO that is deployed to offer humanitarian assistance and assist a population in conflict after a Category 4 hurricane. Coastal Hope recreates the challenges and conditions professionals encounter in complex emergencies characterized by conflict, disaster, and humanitarian need. During the exercise, participants will engage in intensive negotiations, humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding assessment, and human rights advocacy as part of a scenario based on a realistic conflict and humanitarian crisis. As in March, role players will come from the local community as well as Company C/436th Civilian Affairs Battalion of the U.S. Army. A write up about the March 2017 exercise is here.

The November exercise is open not only to graduate students, but also to professionals, educators, and internationals looking to enhance their skills and abilities for working in complex emergencies.  The fee for the 4-day exercise is $1,000 for non-students (professionals, internationals, and educators) and for students $625. Meals and lodging are included.  Participants are responsible for all travel expenses.

If you are interested in attending the November exercise, please contact the Forage Center here.  You can pre-register directly here.