'Campaign in peace' programme

This initiative works to bring together members of gang communities and inform and discuss with them ways out of the violence. Talks are hosted and young people are actively encouraged to take part in the different workshops and programmes, leading them down the path to peace.

Description

'Campaign in Peace' initiative is focused on building youths capacity towards positive change and creating public awareness on the need to join hands against violence in society.

Aims / Objectives

The programme aims at reducing conflict and violence culture through building youths capacity to be self-reliant economically empowered, confident and responsible members of society. This would be a shift from their former- low esteem, lack of skills/proper education, violent/criminal, frequent clashes with rival gangs over superiority and territorial control way of life

How it is Articulated

Through community outreach campaigns, workshops, training in fine arts and carpentry. There was one strategy used in engaging the gang members and getting them to participate in programmes, firstly they identifyed the leaders, who were approached and enlightened on the organisations work. They obtain permission to visit their neighbourhood for the outreach programme, which is where they hold 'open air'(on the street or school ground) discussions on the ills of being a gang member, the need for peace, the need for self reliance and also suggest non-violence means of addressing conflict. Questions are encouraged and answered. Unemployment is one issue directly responsible for the restiveness of the youths of the Niger-Delta, which is why the organisation integrates skills training into it core programme area to assist in empowering mostly uneducated youths with skills in carpentry and fine arts. Those who have an interest in those areas are encouraged to participate in the skills trainings.

Achievements / Learning Points

Through the organizations peace and dialogue advocacy visit to gang members and other residents of Njemanze waterside, last year (2005) ,the organization was able to get an insight into the various reasons (Lack of quality education, unemployment, the money/patronage they recieve from politicians who recruit and use them for electoral violence and for some, the fact of being feared in their neigbourhood) why young people are involved in, and glorify, the gangs. These proved very useful when planning intervention programmes. However, to make a considerable impact long-term then engagement and commitment on all sides is required. There is a general lack of trust among stakeholders in the Niger-Delta region due to long years of existing conflict over the allocation and management of oil revenue and also the underdevelopment issues in the region.Confidence building therefore forms the foundation of every project or programme presently.    
 
LEARNING POINTS:
1.When the gang leaders are directly involved and committed to projects, it records a higher success rate because of the respect and control they have over other members. 

2.Intensive training should be done outside the immediate environment of the trainees as they often have divided attention/lack concentration- when trainings are done within their residential area, often others who are not a part of the training come to the venue to find out what is going on and thereby disrupt sessions.

3.Programmes targeted at these groups of youths should involve proper monitoring and integration of mentoring programmes for sustainability and greater impact. 

Geographical Area of Operation

Rivers State 

Funding Resources

Individual Contributions

Stories

On a September morning in 2005,people living or doing business around the mile 1(diobu-Port-Harcourt) area suddenly started hearing gun shoots from the Njemanze waterfront (a shanty town) and later saw some residents running out with a few of their belongings. It is these people who informed the organization (whose office is located within that area) staff and others that those responsible for the shooting, were members of two rival youth gangs called the Icelanders and Greenish. A few minutes into the shooting about 4 young men ran into the HASFA office with injuries pleading to be treated. The staffs assisted, by taking them to nearby clinics, but on later inquiry it was discovered that the young men were members of one of the gangs and they sought help there thinking it was a clinic because of the name! Because of that encounter, those gang members were grateful and the organization saw an opportunity to further engage them. A few months later, they went to Njemanze area on ‘community outreach campaign for non-violence’ and currently, some of those gang members are trainees in the skills acquisition training of the organization and have expressed willingness to turn a new leaf, with adequate support.