CEYOFE Builds Capacities Of Young Peacemakers

 

By Constance Mbongo

The Centre for Youth and Family Empowerment (CEYOFE) in partnership U.S State department have ended a 2-day training for 30 youth leaders and activists of civil society organizations across Fako Division in the South West Region on peace building and peacemaking.

After an intensive two day capacity building workshop from February 24-25, 2021, the youths have left with a determination to continue pressing for peace.

Themed “Building Peacemakers for peace”, the workshop to foster youths participation in peace building processes took place at the Cameroon Cultural Centre, Bongo Square, Buea.

According to Stella Dopgima, vision bearer and team lead of CEYOFE, the project aimed at empowering Youth to build resilience against violent extremism trough amplification of narratives that are supportive of peace and tolerance among peers.

She added that the project also seek ways to empower the youth to advocate and promote respect for the rule of law, and upholding of democratic values and principles such as transparency and accountability.

Ensuring education of youth regarding gender and social inclusiveness, and building a commitment and culture of volunteerism and community Service were also part of the objectives of the project

Over the course of two days, renowned authorities in Cameroon and the international peace building landscape answered the call of Eteki Stella Dopgima, Vice President of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni and CEO and Founder of CEYOFE to speak to and train a sub section of youth representatives in the art of peace building.

Interactive sessions in sustainable peace unfolded under the watchful eye of the representative of the Regional Delegate of Youth and civic Education Chinda Edmond in his capacity as Regional Pedagogic Inspector.

Resource persons included famed counter-terrorist Educator and Executive Director for the West Africa Center for Counter Extremism (WACCE) Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar, legal luminary Barrister Akonteh Clifford, peace activist and lecturer at the university of Buea Eileen Tabuwe Akwo.

Marjory Schleicher a professional Associate kicked off activities with an address from the United States Embassy in Cameroon.

In her address to participants, she emphasized the timeliness and importance of such a workshop considering that Cameroon over the past years has been plagued by conflicts in the Far North and especially the prevailing crisis in the North West and South West Regions.

 She noted the pivotal role that youths have to play in scrutinizing situations of tension and actively engaging them to bring back the peace.

Keynote speaker Barrister Akonteh could not agree more as he took the rostrum to stress that the peace building effort must not be left until conflict has escalated. Instead, he said it must be nipped in the bud by anticipating early warnings of upheaval.

Citing the Arab spring and the digital age, he recalled that it is of utmost importance that the potentials of youths be harnessed towards peace building.

This, he said, includes mobilizing youths to vote, including them in decision making to ensure that there is no inequality or breakdown in the rule of law.

Participants were schooled on techniques in mapping out actors of conflict, identifying dividers and connectors, drivers of youth radicalization and the laws on conflict notably UNSCR 2250 of December 9, 2015 on youth peace and security and SDG 16.

Peace activist Eileen Tabuwe took it a step further by conducting practical exercises with trainees with the aim of deconstructing stereotypes about gender roles which promote conflict.

Other highlights of the workshop included exposés on youths networking for peace, exclusion and radicalization and positive leadership.

Participants were also regaled with anecdotes from counter-terrorist Educator Mutaru Muqthar of his firsthand experience dealing with terrorists and the successes he registered in Ghana in 2002, stopping more than 20 radicalized youths from joining terrorist groups.

He drew from his experience to show how peace builders can build credibility with both sides for effective mediation.

At the end of day 2, youth leaders testified that they were already using the knowledge acquired to intervene in conflicts which they previously neglected as irrelevant at the level of their homes, churches and quarters.

They said they looked forward to applying this knowledge on a broader scale for more peace building exploits.

The project, it should be noted was funded as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Leveraging Innovation In New Communities (LINC) grant.