Mindfulness for Trauma Management and Conflict Resolution (MTMCR) in the Levant: A Pilot Study on a Novel Approach to Environmental Peacebuilding

Kumanga Andrahennadi, Centre for the Advanced Learning of Mindfulness (Pvt) Ltd (Sri Lanka)
Daniel Weiner, University of Connecticut (United States)
Rana Qaimari, EcoPeace Middle East (Palestine)

The simultaneous geo-political and the emotional health crises in the Levant region are major challenges negatively impacting the Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli EcoPeace Middle East staff and its national/regional activities. Thus, a ‘Mindfulness for Trauma Management and Conflict Resolution (MTMCR)’ program (developed by Andrahennadi) was implemented to test whether cultivating wholesome mind qualities such as mindfulness, compassion and equanimity could improve emotional well-being and strengthen the interpersonal relationships and ability to implement environmental action within EcoPeace staff and its stakeholders. This pilot study (n=69) measured pre- to post-changes across two retreats held in Cyprus in 2024 and 2025. Significant improvements in self-compassion (p=.039), mindfulness (p=.005), equanimity (p=.008), and total emotional well-being (p=.002) suggest the retreat’s potential impact on individual/interpersonal well-being and relational growth towards improving environmental peace-building activity in conflict-affected regions. This paper/presentation will highlight the MTMCR program structure, key outcomes, and a potential novel approach to future environmental peacebuilding.