| Posted: Dec. 06 2005,06:57 |
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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? |
Our
Continuous involvement in the Promotion of Peace and Non-violence
programmes /activities through the Education for Peace, the SOS
Children villages and schools has increased to a magnificent level of
discipline and harmonious co-existence. Virtually all SOS children/
youths living in all SOS Villages and schools in SOS North/West African
sub-region has taken up peacebuilding in their daily practices.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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We
are really in need of capacity building programmmes like specialized
training workshops and courses on global ANV Peace Building
methodologies for our coordinators and teachers and 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. We need to introduce a Peace Education in the
mainstream curriculum and require a Peace Center with in-house peace
library, mediation 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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In
our increased momentum to shift the culture of violence and war to the
culture of peace and non-violence, the SOS Kinderdorf North-West Africa
through its numerous projects has continued to implement
programmes/activities that will strengthen the legacy of the great
minds like Matmaha Ghandi and Martin Lurther King in the Promotion of
the culture of peace and Non-violence in the Gambia and world at large.
On
the 25th of April 2005, the SOS KDI joined the rest of the world in the
celebration of the Season for Non-violence as propagated by Mahatma
Ghandi and Dr Martin Luther King. Participants to this programmes
were, SOS Regional Education Adviser- Dr Julieta Mendes, SOS North-West
Africa Village Directors, SOS Youth Leaders, World Peace Prayer Society
Representatives, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding Representative.
Students of SOS Hermann Gmeiner Lower and Upper Basic Schools and
Senior Secondary Schools. Participants from other junior and senior
secondary schools in the Gambia.
As part of commemoration to
this programme, there was Peace March from the SOS Regional Office to
the SOS Hermann Gmeiner Technical Senior Secondary school palaver Hut,
Peace Flag ceremony, Peace Poems/Song/Drama.. Finally, was the
presentation of the seminar topic: Making Peace and Non-Violence Work
in Our Time- The Role of Children and Youth In Peacebuilding by
Emeka Ignatius Onyekwere- SOS Peace Pal Coordinator.
SOS
NorthWest Africa Mother’s Training of Trainers Workshop in Women in
Peacebuilding- Interpersonal Relationship and Peacebuilding, Peace and
conflict Resolution as integral part of the Basic SOS mothers’ and
Aunty's yearly training program.
The SOS KDI also
participated in the celebration of the 2005 international Day of Peace
through its yearly Global Peace Games (SOS/FIFA)- September 21st 2005
Professional
Peacebuilding Training Course at West African Peacebuilding Institute
(WAPI 2005), Accra Ghana for SOS Peace Pals Coordinator- Emeka Ignatius
Onyekwere- September 4th – 23rd, 2005.
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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? |
Looking
at the incessant proliferation of violence/ wars especially in West
Africa sub-region, we are suggesting that African Union, ECOWAS in
collaboration with United Nations and EU should strengthen their
strategies in the promotion of the sustainable development and
democracy in Africa. Arbitrary change of National Constitutions to
prolong terms in office, the media freedom expression and support of
women presidential candidates.
Electoral commissions should be
permanent bodies to monitor population dynamics in terms of
constituencies. The president of the comission can be elected at the
election time.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
SOS
North /West Africa is Partnership with World Peace Prayer Society,
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 regional level, SOS KDI is a National Network Member of WANEP (West
African Network for Peace Building) The Gambia: hence, SOS-KDI is in
partnership with all WANEP National Network Members ( CBOs and CSOs in
The Gambia).
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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)? |
1.Inclusion of Peace Education in all SOS North/West Regional Schools
2. Building and Equipping a Peace Center.
3.Yearly Prayer for World Peace in the SOS Peace Garden
4. Yearly Celebration of Season for Non- Violence (Jan 30-April 4)
5.Participation in the National/International Conferences and Workshops on Peace Education/Peace Building;
6.Yearly Celebration of 100 days of Peace to mark the International day of Peace Celebration.(June 13-Sep21) United Nations
7.Yearly Celebration of the World Peace Day (November 17)
8.Activities as may be directed by WANEP and the World Peace Prayer Society and other related peace Building Organizations
9.Planting
of Peace Poles and Peace trees in the SOS Children's Villages in the
Countries that do not have one (Culture of Peace will grow in the minds
of our children as the peace tree grows and give branches)
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Postal address of organization
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SOS kinderdorf Internationa Regional Office North/West Africa
Hermann Gmeiner Drive
P.M.B 28 Banjul, The Gambia
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E-mail address of organization
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julieta.mendes@sos-ro.org
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Website address of organization
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www.sos-ro.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Education for the 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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North/West African Region- The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau and Cabo Verde
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES, YOUTH VILLAGES, KINDERGARTENS, SCHOOLS, SOS STAFF
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