Melanie Fersi with the College students Tarek, Afeef, Woldegirogis, Guljan, I-Chen, Chien-Chien , Tim and Keke
According to the peace researcher John Paul Lederach (1997) successful peacebuilding at a grassroots level is primarily about rebuilding relationships. Building peace is therefore simply a matter of working on relationships.
In the last two College Rounds, students at the College of Interreligious Studies Munich have asked themselves in a Photovoice project what the recipe for successful relationships is. They have together agreed on the following ingredients:
Understanding
Understanding is essential because it allows you to truly see another person, accepting both their strengths and flaws, which forms the bedrock of trust. A strong relationship is called a “recipe” because it requires a careful blend of several key “ingredients,” not just one. Understanding is the core element; it helps other parts like respect, kindness, and communication to work together harmoniously. When this ingredient is present, the connection becomes deeply meaningful, creating a bond that is strong enough to last a lifetime.
Being able to be yourself
I believe a relationship can exist without all ingredients but ones brewed with this particular ingredient mean the most to me.
A person with whom I can wholeheartedly be myself is a confidant whom I trust completely, relationships like these are ones that last a lifetime.
When Shared Rules Foster Good Relations
In a college like OCCURSO, where students from diverse cultures and faiths live and learn together, having shared rules is important. Yet it is the consistent practice of these mutually agreed-upon rules in daily life that builds respect and fosters healthy relationships among students. The willingness to understand one another and to compromise across differing interests is a key aspect of intercultural communication, and it can serve as a simple but meaningful foundation for interreligious dialogue.
The Baking Tray of Love
In my relationship recipe, humour is the main ingredient, because without it I’d be crying over the tragedies happening to this baking tray. Every oil stain is a reminder that some people season life with laziness.
If Only People Were as Clear as Wine Glasses
When I think about relationships between people,I always picture a wine glass.
A wine glass is clear.
You can see through it.
Nothing is hidden.
And when you hang it carefully on a rack, like this photo I took,it stays clean, safe, and untouched by dust.
That’s how I see human connections. Not only between two people, but with anyone in our lives.
If we keep things transparent, simple, and clean.
Problem-solving skill
Fire extinguishers can extinguish emergencies that arise in a room, a quality that is also invaluable in people: the ability to calmly resolve problems and restore order.
Having a safe space within your friendgroup
A safe space in a friendship matters because it lets both people be themselves without fear of judgment. When friends feel comfortable sharing their feelings, trust grows stronger. It also creates support and understanding, which helps each person feel valued. In that kind of space, the friendship can deepen and thrive.
The spirit of empathy
Empathy isn’t just about understanding others, it’s about creating space where everyone feels welcome, heard, and valued. Showed in this picture, the shared ingredients, collaborative preparation, and casual atmosphere reflect how empathy can be practiced through everyday gestures: offering help, sharing resources, and enjoying the process together. Each pizza, uniquely topped, symbolizes individual preferences embraced within a collective experience. It’s a reminder that empathy thrives when we cook, create, and connect side by side, nourishing not just bodies, but relationships.
