The human cost of conflict

Millions refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and Ukraine have escaped conflict, yet they carry the heavy burden of mental health struggles. Columbia World Projects and Columbia Global Center Athens are developing an open-access tool that combines research on effective management of mental health stresses with the lived experiences of refugees. The Healing Roots: An Evidence Roadmap for Refugee Mental Health Interventions project aims to guide evidence-based support for refugee communities across Greece and the broader region. Read more about refugee mental health.

"Good mental health isn't just about medical care — it's how communities rebuild themselves and get stronger."

- Professor Charles Branas, project lead for Healing Roots initiative with Columbia Global Center Athens

Columbia Global Center Amman’s event series, After War: Learning from Past Conflicts explores how communities heal and rebuild after war, looking to create frameworks for more effective post-conflict responses. The three-part series, in collaboration with the American University of Beirut, brought together journalists documenting recovery, medical experts addressing humanitarian needs, and mental health specialists developing trauma support for adults and children. Read more about learning from past conflicts.

But healing from conflict is not just about rebuilding communities, it is also about restoring futures. The Columbia Global Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program supports early-career scholars whose academic trajectories have been disrupted by instability in their home countries. The one-year fellowship provides critical resources to help scholars resume their research, expand professional networks, and advance their academic careers. Read more about the program and how to apply.

Spotlight

Born in Iran, the child of Afghan refugees, Amina Rahimi faced closed doors at every turn, but she refused to give up. Denied access to education in Iran and forced to choose between her safety and her future, she fought for every chance to continue her education. Then, a scholarship from Columbia changed everything. Read more of Amina's story.

“In Iran, I faced so many barriers because I was both a woman and a refugee. Here at Columbia, I was thrilled to be in an environment that valued freedom, growth, and defining one’s own future.”

- Amina Rahimi, recipient of the 2022 Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students

Supporting those who tell the story

The toll of truth-telling is steep. Since 1992, the Committee to Protect Journalists has verified 1,660 journalists have been killed while covering conflict. This tragic situation motivated a comprehensive effort across Columbia Global to highlight the critical role of journalists in society and the risks they face as they strive to do their work.

This includes Columbia Global Center Paris’s Journalism + Crisis series, and their showcase discussion of The Gaza Project, which raised concerns about the magnitude of the deaths of Palestinian journalists. Alongside these efforts, Columbia Global Center Amman's Faultlines and Deadlines event examined how journalists can maintain both truth and safety in conflict zones. Read more about the price of bearing witness.

“War tears away at your psyche — at your soul — because you have seen man at his absolute darkest and what human beings can do to each other.”

- Janine di Giovanni, founder of The Reckoning Project, veteran war correspondent, and panelist at Amman Center’s Faultlines and Deadlines event

Art speaks when words fail

One of the most striking moments of the 1,425-day siege of Sarajevo was a lone man playing the cello in Sniper Alley. During conflicts, sustaining cultural expression can be a lifeline, demonstrating resilience and offering hope. With Institute for Ideas and Imagination and its Displaced Artists Initiative, the 1991 Project offers musicians a safe space to share Ukraine’s rich musical heritage through a concert series at Reid Hall in Paris. The initiative also delivered more than 165 instruments to Ukrainian schools to help preserve artistic culture and offer an outlet for healing through music.

The Columbia Global Center Paris and Institute for Ideas and Imagination also provide space for artists who have had to leave their countries due to extreme circumstances. Doha Kahlout, a Palestinian artist, was honored at an event with music, readings, and film from Palestinian artists. Ms. Kahlout, a displaced artist in residence, is currently stranded in Gaza and unable to travel to Paris. Read more about displaced artists.

Following the money

Can access to emergency funding prevent the next global crisis? At the Columbia Center for Political Economy, researchers are discussing how financial cooperation could be key to a more stable world. Through the Who Governs Finance? series, experts examine how agreements among central banks to exchange currency with each other during times of financial crisis either unite or divide nations. While some countries enjoy unlimited access to these exchanges, others face isolation, reminding us that financial architecture often reflects existing inequalities. Read more about financial cooperation and global stability.

AI as a tool for peace

At a discussion titled The Promise of AI: Building a Better World at Columbia Global Center Mumbai, leaders in artificial intelligence discussed the technology’s groundbreaking potential to drive economies, improve education and mitigate human conflict — from forecasting potential violence hotspots to creating early warning systems that protect civilians. Read more about using AI for a better world.

Explore our upcoming events

Feb. 11 New York | In-person

Where economics meets everything

The Center for Political Economy's Spring Showcase bridges economics with history, law, anthropology, political science, sociology, public health, and engineering. This event features poster presentations by faculty and graduate students supported by the Center. Register here.

Feb. 19 Paris | In-person

Ukrainian music

Experience the intersection of music and visual art in a captivating performance by Ukrainian musicians and composers. Register here.

Feb. 28 Paris | In-person

Stories that make and break reality

Learn how post-colonialism, cultural memory, and the struggle for freedom shape our world today with acclaimed author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates on his latest book, “The Message.” Register here.

Still curious? Continue reading.

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