| Posted: April 11 2005,03:32 |
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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? |
Yes, we have made progress since our inception in 1998.
Indicators of this progress are realized from the following areas;
a) Network with peace and justice organizations both locally and internationally
b) To participate and offer support to grassroots peace and justice work
c) Research and validate traditions of peace in Africa with a view to informing the current peace building practice
d) Develop human capacity for peace and justice work at the grassroots level
e) Develop a database of peace and justice organizations in Africa
a) Capacity Building
Capacity
building has been done through the Peace Building & Reconciliation
Course (PBR). The course has gained popularity and recognition among
peace practitioners from various walks of life and cannot be over
emphasized and it is evidenced from the increasing nationality
diversity of the participants from both grassroots groups and
organizations working in the field of peace.
b) Peace March
We
have been able to conduct successful peace marches in the month of
September since 2001 with each year recording a growth from the number
of individuals and organizations involved. The march has created an
opportunity for participants to air their sentiments and bring on board
the government in its pursuit for a peaceful co-existence.
c) Networking
We
have been able to create a network organization in Kibera and Mathare
slums namely, "Kibera Grassroots Initiative" and "Mathare Umbrella for
Peace" and the networks have been used as a stepping stone for groups
working in these areas.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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Our biggest challenge has revolved around the lack of opportunities, poverty levels of the community that we serve.
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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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Since
it was first program implemented in 2002, the course in capacity
building has seen about 175 students who have graduated. The greatest
strength of our program lies in its ability to respond to conflict at
the grassroots level, when and where it occurs through the creation of
peace forums.
Thus, we have through the program produced a
number of active peace builders. For those working in established
institutions, the program has acted as a much needed package for
strengthening capacities, both individual and institutional.
One
of the more direct and immediate successes of the course has been the
implementation after training of a number of projects in the broad
field of peace building.
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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
an effort to promote the culture of peace within our society, we need
to invest in promoting sustainable development projects especially
among the grassroots who form the larger backbone of most African
economies.
They require basic peace education that will enable
them change their livelihoods and outlook to life and conflict
management. I would therefore request that the UN to create dialogue
space with peace organizations as well as provide a revolving fund to
support community projects until they are self sustaining.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
Since
inception in 1998, Africa Peace Point has been involved in various
activities among the grassroots peace initiatives in Kibera and Mathare
especially from the year 2002 that saw the initiation of a grassroots
network in Kibera, the Kibera Grassroots Initiative.
Apart
from these grassroots networks APP has worked closely in collaboration
with regional networks such as Peace Tree Network (PTN), Global
Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) and Kenya
Action Network on Small Arms (KANSA).
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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)? |
We
intend to move out to other regions of Kenya and Africa with an aim of
empowering our people with conflict resolution and management skills by
establishing a Peace Institute in Dagoretti, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Postal address of organization
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P.O. Box 21573 - 00505 Adams Arcade, Nairobi, Kenya
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E-mail address of organization
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app@shalomhouse.co.ke or michael@maf.or.ke
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Website address of organization
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www.africapeacepointkenya.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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we
put more emphasis on Education for a culture of peace, Equal
opportunities for women, Sustainable development and for free flow of
information and knowledge.
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Our
target group mostly involves the youth, women and community leaders or
those heading various community projects as well as marginalized
members of the community and refugee groups thus seeking to empower
them.
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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Kenya
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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