Families in the camp, mostly headed by women, come from different tribes, and therefore the camp represents a microcosm of the broader inter-tribal and inter-ethnic conflict in the region.
Zahid’s adaptive approach, mixing fun and play for children with health education for mothers, built trust with families and eventually gained him access to the tribal chiefs and an ability to begin the “real work” of peace building: bringing adults together to discuss their hopes and dreams for children, breaking down stereotypes and building bridges between the different tribal groups.