Capacity-strengthening Workshop inspires Eastern Africa Youth to Renew their commitment to Peacebuilding
The ‘Africa We Want’ envisions a peaceful, and secure Africa by 2063. However, African countries continue to face many challenges that threaten the peace, the security of their inhabitants, and the safety of the continent’s resources. Addressing these challenges and realizing the Aspirations of Agenda 2063 requires the willingness of young people to change the narrative, and traverse their religious boundaries, and work together to achieve the desired change.
Through the Salama Hub Project and the Eastern Africa Regional Peace Programme, the All Africa Conference of Churches has empowered 20 interfaith youth leaders from Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Kenya to promote peacebuilding and social cohesion in the region through a capacity-strengthening workshop held between 16th and 18th April 2024, in Bujumbura.
“I had just arrived in Khartoum and boarding off the plane when the war began in my country. I immediately had to get on the road to Egypt for refugee” said Longman Osman from Sudan, as participants shared personal experiences of facing and managing conflicts in their communities.
“Tribalism is a major driver of conflicts in the Eastern Africa Region.” Shared Nahimana Didine, one of the Islamic participants from Burundi.
The facilitators helped the participants not only to understand the role of the UNSCR 2250 in deepening the culture of peace in the region but also to appreciate the importance of aligning their work promoting social cohesion with the agenda 2063.
While closing the training, Rev Sylvester Bizimana, the General Secretary for the Council of Churches in Burundi noted that such a training was very timely given that Burundi is preparing for the 2025 elections.
“I am glad that I have heard the participants from Burundi state that they are going to prioritize mobilizing youth for peaceful elections, among other things they have put on their activity plans.” He said.
In the Photo: [Participants during a team building activity: Courtesy - Muyunga Brian]
