| Posted: Mar. 05 2005,04:20 |
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen
progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of
action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade? |
1999-2002.
With
the appointment of 10 volunteer coordinators to work in urban and rural
communities , a remarkable level of improved peace consciousness
was realized, as some 1,400 (both school-based and out-of-school)
youths , most of whom live within the Kombo Saint Mary's Division
became Peace Pal Club/Youth for Peace Club members.
2002 till date.
Prayer/Message
"May Peace Prevail on Earth"; becomes household words throughout The
Gambia, and the strive towards the "Attainment of a Culture of Peace in
The Gambia"; accelerated with the "Celebration of 100 Days of Peace";,
which put additional focus on the International Day of Peace. Some
4,000 children, youth, women and men are now active in Non Violence
Peace Building. As a result, students or out-of-school youth
related incidents of violence in all shapes and forms have become
significantly reduced, particularly within the Kombo Saint Mary's
Division, due to prompt and effective peer-to-peer (mediation and
reconciliation) intervention techniques acquired over time as active
members of the various Peace Pal/Youth for Peace clubs. This should
have been the situation in the remaining 4 divisions of The Gambia, but
constraints beyond our control have been militating against our
corporate efforts.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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WPPSGC(
like its parent body WPPS) is a voluntary and member-supported
organisation. In particular, WPPSGC volunteer coordinators are mostly
teachers, school leavers and casual workers, who struggle to eke out a
living in the face of the rising scale of inflation and other forms of
economic hardships in The Gambia, with no stipends to augment the
little we earn.
In addition, we stand in dire need of capacity
building programmmes like specialized training workshops and courses on
global ANV Peace Building methodologies, promotional materials, funding
from local, regional or international sponsors, in order to enhance the
effective and timely dissemination of peace and nonviolence through the
implementation of our scheduled activities, projects and programmes. Up
to the time of writing, WPPSGC has no office or office equipments of
its own. We normally use a section of the Senior Representative's
sitting room as both office and meeting room.
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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The Chapter has carried out a lot of activities and, subsequently, achieved much in The Gambia.
1999-2002.
· The Chapter formally applied, and approval was given for its registration with the Government of The Gambia.
·
Distribution of Peace Gifts (stickers, hand flyers and desktop Peace
Poles) in different parts of the country, bearing the message and
prayer "May Peace Prevail on Earth!"
· The appointment of 10 coordinators to serve in urban and rural communities.
·
Dedication and Planting of 1 wooden and 7 metallic Peace Poles in Kombo
Saint Mary's, North Bank, Central River, Lower River and Upper River
Divisions.
· Establishment of 10 Peace Pal Clubs in senior secondary
schools, and 3 Peace Clubs in nursery and primary schools in the Kombo
Saint Mary's Division.
· Establishment of 2 Youth for Peace Clubs in 2 churches and 3 local Youth for Peace Clubs in Bakoteh, Sukuta and Serrekunda.
·
Hosting of all Peace Pal / Youth for Peace Clubs, and other Peace-
focused and Child Rights groups / organizations in a symposium entitled
"Pathways to Peace and Stability in the West African Sub Region"; at
the SOS.Hermann Gmeiner Assembly Hall.
2001-2003.
·
Establishment of 5 more Peace Pal Clubs in senior secondary schools, 2
in junior secondary and 3 in nursery and primary schools in different
parts of the country.
· Presentation of 1 Peace Pole (commemoration of September 11 terrorist attacks) to the U.S.A. Embassy in The Gambia.
· Appointment of the Mayor of Banjul as Peace Day Committee honorary chairperson:"100 Days of Peace".
·
Hosting of "De Buddy's": a sensational teenage musical group from the
Netherlands, (for 1 day) whilst they were touring The Gambia in their
global campaign against in violence, discrimination and injustice in
The SOS Hermann Gmeiner Assembly Hall.
· Honoring and Celebration of
the "100 Days of Peace"-June 13 to September 21,2003- through
international as well as traditional Gambian peace education and peace
building methods. This put an additional focus on UN's International
Day of Peace, as advocated by visionary congressman Dennis J.Kucinich.
·
Collaboration with the School of Metaphysics (based in Montana, U.S.A.)
by participating in the Dedication of the World's First Peace Dome; and
the synchronized Reading of the Covenant of Peace. This entailed a
2-day programme, wherein 2 Christian clergymen, 2 Muslim clerics and 1
Rastafarian priest led the assemblage in prayers.
· Participation,
alongside groups from both the public and private sectors, in an
11-kilometer march past against HIV\AIDS on December 1:World AIDS Day,
which was organised by NAS (National Aids Secretariat) and K.M.C.
(Kanifing Municipal Council).
· Hosting of the Youth Ambassadors of Peace (YAP), The Gambia in a symposium entitled "Peace and conflict Resolution";
· Inauguration of weekly "Making Peace where I live (MAPWIL)" meetings for Peace Pal / Youth for Peace Clubs.
·
Celebration of Peace Feast involving peace songs, poems and poster
presentations heightened by the cooking and sharing of "Ebeh"
porridge, which signifies Peace and Harmonious Co-existence.
January 2004 till Date
· Implementation of weekly "Making Peace where I live (MAPWIL)" meetings for Peace Pal / Youth for Peace Clubs.
·
Organization of a symposium entitled "Making Peace and Non Violence
Work in our time" hosted by the Saints (St Joseph and St Augustine's
Peace Pals /Youth for Peace Clubs) in the St Joseph's Multi-purpose
Assembly Hall in Banjul City.
This ended with a Peace Pole Planting
/ Peace Garden Dedication Ceremony in the fore court of the
school's administrative Building.
· Participation in the "Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary
of the Rwanda Genocide Conference" hosted by the African Union (AU),
The Gambia.
· Participation in a three-day "Capacity Building
Training Workshop on collaborative Peace building for Civil Society
Organizations (CSO's)" organized by West African Network for
Peacebuilding (WANEP), in The Gambia.
· Participation in a five-day
"Training of Trainer Workshop on Peace Education" organized by West
African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), in The Gambia
The
presentation of Peace Pole to the Bishop of Banjul- Bishop
Michael Cleary on the Occassion of the "Mariama Pilgrimage" at
Kunkujang, The Gambia. Peace Pole is a four sided object with the
Message "May Peace Prevail on Earth!" written in four different
languages- It stands in silent vigil for World Peace.
From
the left is Rev. Father Mbanefo, Bishop Michael cleary, and Mr.
Emeka Onyekwere ( World Peace Prayer Society Representative in The
Gambia)- 2002
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ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
In
view of the outcome indicators of almost every activity, project , or
programme implemented over the years ,the feedback on Risks has
been overwhelmingly been the same - that the "Attainment of a
Culture Peace in The Gambia" through ANV Peace Building can only
be realized side by side with meaningful Poverty Alleviation at
grassroots community levels.
Our advice, therefore, is that as
Peace and Poverty Alleviation are so intertwined, these two must be
carried in an innovative manner by the UN System and implemented by
competent CBOs (Community Based Organizations) or CSOs (Civil Society
Organizations). In addition, UN System should pass a resolution on the
incorporation of ANV Peace Education in the curricula of schools (from
ABC Kindergarten through Senior Secondary schools) in all member
states.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
World
Peace Prayer Society The Gambia Chapter is a branch of the World Prayer
Society / Goi Peace Foundation with headquarters in Wassaic, New York,
USA and Tokyo, Japan, respectively. WPPS/Goi Peace Foundation has local
chapters in all countries of the world.
At
the national level, our partners are Humanist Movement, SOS Kinderdorf
International (North West Regional Office in The Gambia) , Youth
Ambassadors of Peace and the National Youth Council. At the
regional level, WPPSGC is a National Network Member of WANEP (West
African Network for Peace Building) The Gambia :on account of this,
WPPSGC is in partnership with all WANEP National Network Members (CBOs
and CSOs in The Gambia). Internationally, our partners are School of
Metaphysics, Montana, USA and City Montessori School, Lucknow, India.
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
In
our bid to create an enabling atmosphere to raise peace consciousness
among Gambians and the entire world, through the World Peace Prayer
Message: "May Peace Prevail on Earth" and to help educate the young
ones through arts, communication and friendship, etc, WPPS The
Gambia chapter has outlined these activities to promote the culture of
peace and non-violence (2006- 2010):
- Yearly celebration of Amenia Peace festival by Our parent Body( WPPS/GOI Peace Foundation) in USA
- Yearly celebration of International Day of Peace.
- Yearly celebration of World Peace Day
- Yearly celebration of the Season for Non- violence
- Yearly celebration of World Peace Prayer day (WPPS)
- Yearly Participation in International Peace Essay contest for young People ( WPPS /GOI Peace Foundation)
- Training of local coordinators to implement the activities of WPPSGC in the rural areas
- Organizing of countrywide Peace talks, seminars and workshops in Peacebuilding.
- Promoting Peace Education in Schools through our Peace pals/youth for peace clubs activities.
- Participation in National and international Peace seminars/workshops/conferences.
- Inauguration of more Peace Pal / Youth For Peace Clubs.
-
Participation in any activity as may be directed by WPPS and the Goi
Peace Foundation and other Networking Peace Organisations
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Postal address of organization
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WORLD PEACE PRAYER SOCIETY THE GAMBIA CHAPTER( WPPSGC). PMB 634 SEREKUNDA, THE GAMBIA
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E-mail address of organization
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gambiaworldpeaceprayersociety@yahoo.com
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Website address of organization
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Not applicable
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Education for a culture of peace
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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International peace and security
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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The Gambia
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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All Network Countries of World Peace Prayer Society.
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