Generations For Peace develop new partnership to prevent extreme movements in Nigeria
Generations For Peace (GFP) and Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH kick start a new partnership to implement a 15-month, youth-led Advocacy For Peace programme in 10 conflict affected communities in Kaduna, Nigeria.
GFP was founded as a peace-through-sport initiative of the Jordan Olympic Committee. Their focus has always been on supporting people to implement grassroots peace-building activities in their own communities to address burning issues of hatred, intolerance, exclusion, inequality and violence, which they’re passionate about changing.
The objective of the programme is to encourage young people to play an active role in circulating peace messaging and preventing the development of extreme movements in society through Advocacy For Peace. It aims to build acceptance amongst 250 ethnically and religiously diverse youth in response to the growing levels of youth-perpetrated violence in the state by supporting, and rallying youth for local actions to prevent the further development of extreme movements in society.
Youth recruitment and radicalization into religiously-affiliated extreme movements such as Boko Haram, community militias and gangs have been on the rise in Kaduna, with male youth making up 80% of active participants in violence. Most recently between December 2016 and February 2017, an estimated 200 to 800 people were killed in religiously-motivated clashes in the southern part of the state.
Speaking about this exciting new partnership with Bosch Foundation, Dr. Mohanned Arabiyat, President of GFP said “The proposed Advocacy For Peace programme builds upon GFP’s nine years of conflict transformation experience in Nigeria by supporting community-generated social messaging on peace and tolerance. The Bosch Foundation shares GFP’s belief that addressing social issues at an early stage and encouraging young people to play an active role in shaping the society they live in is the most effective way to transform conflict and establish peace. There is an urgent need to amplify positive, pro-social messaging on peace and tolerance in Kaduna and this initiative will mobilise youth for local actions.”
“We place a strong emphasis on locally lead initiatives,” said Henry Alt-Haaker of Robert Bosch Stiftung, “and fostering understanding and reconciliation that ultimately supports a peaceful resolution of conflicts. We are excited to be supporting GFP in this venture that will empower women in areas where they most need a voice. We are convinced that the programme will contribute to the goal of securing lasting stability and peace in Northern Nigeria through strengthened community resilience to extreme movements in society.”
While previous GFP projects in Kaduna have largely facilitated sport and empowerment-based peace-building initiatives, Advocacy For Peace builds the awareness needed to support conflict transformation among the broader community by promoting attitudinal and behavioural change. The programme will impact a total of 1,780 diverse youth and stakeholders in a state with more than 60 different ethnic groups and two major religions.