CREATIVE SKILLS FOR PEACE
Launch - Pilot Phase
Local
Youth Corner Cameroon on Saturday 15th of April 2016, launched the
pilot phase of her project; Creative Skills for Peace at the National Youth
Correction Centre; Borstal Institute, Buea. Over 30 young people aged 11 - 25,
were trained on peace building, entrepreneurship development, and
personality development, and practical production of basic
commodities like paper bags, beads and jewelleries, soap and detergents,
poultry farming, information technology and photography. The beauty about this
training was the use of the peer educator methodology. The trainers were made
up of young professionals and entrepreneurs who are passionate to fight against
violence and promotion of peace. Among our trainers was a young, talented visually
impaired who trained the inmates on the
production of soap and detergents.
The
Coordinator of the project, Achaleke Christian Leke said; “Engaging young people with a history of violence in the peace building
process through developing their entrepreneurial, marketable and peace building
skills remains a huge inspiration and a step forward towards promoting youth
socio-economic empowerment and participation in peace building,
preventing /countering violence and violent extremism.”
This
project is greatly inspired by the UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on
Youth, Peace and Security which emphasises on the “ investment in young
people’s capabilities and skills to meet labour demands through relevant
education opportunities designed in a manner which promotes a culture of peace.”
This
training equally included; Sports for Peace, Counselling/ De-radicalisation
sessions and computer / books donation. After two hours of training, the result
of this project could be felt on the training ground. Before the trainees could
realise, they were already producing some of these products. By their own hands
they were able to produce paper bags, beads and jewelleries, and manipulating
the computer. "This is the first time I am doing something productive
with my own hands", said one of the trainees.
Nevertheless,
there will be a five weeks follow-up by the trainers with the trainees in this centre
to perfect these skills and provide tangible results. Epie Marc Ndelle the CEO
of Bring It On enterprise and trainer on paper bag production said; “I have discovered some gifted hands among
them and am sure by the end of the training I will be sure of those to recruit
to work with my enterprise.”
The event
/ training equally witnessed the participation of government officials from the
Regional Delegations of Social Affairs, Youth Affairs and Civic Education,
Basic Education and the Superintendent of the Regional Prison Centre.
This
launch / pilot phase was financed by
Local Youth Corner Cameroon and the cash prize of the Commonwealth Youth Award
of Excellence recently won by the National Coordinator of the
organisation; Achaleke Christian. We are convinced that, with more support and
funds, this project has the capacity of frustrating violent extremist who prey
on socio-economic challenges of young people to radicalise and recruit them as
soldiers and equally transform young people into Ambassadors of peace and not
agents of violence.
A big thanks to our partners; Action for Change Cameroon, Commonwealth Youth
Peace Ambassadors Network, Cameroon Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors, YouthCAN,
UNOY and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
" Can I be like you and others" ? "Yes and even better I said"
Familly photograph with trainee, government officials, staff of the institution, organisers and other participants
A view of the hall during the official ceremony of launching the project by the Representative of the Regional Delegate of Social Affairs
Project Coordinator, Achaleke carrying out project presentation and pre- evaluation with participants
Poultry farming beginners training
Trainee presenting the work of his hands to a staff of the center
" This is a dream come true", said the trainee
