Peacebuilding Activities through Youth Clubs

The initiative aims to ensure the security of children affected by the Nepalese conflict. It does this by campaigning to make schools safer, and by equipping the children with the skills and support needed to participate in the peaceful resolution of conflict.

Description

The programme has been developed to defend the increasing number of children who have been victimised by the conflict in various ways, such as being forced to fight as child soldiers, being abducted by the Maoists for various purposes, or indirectly being used by the security forces. The programme also aims to ensure that students of lower and higher secondary school learn peaceful means for conflict resolution.

Aims / Objectives

The organisation’s aims are:

• to rehabilitate the displaced children, to ensure that they continue their studies and to ensure their rights;
• to make schoolchildren aware of peaceful means of conflict resolution and to strengthen the children’s clubs so they can become involved in peace activities in their respective areas; and
• to develop ‘peace zones’ in the child-related areas such as schools, health centres and roads etc.

How it is Articulated

• Formation of children’s clubs in schools;
• monthly meetings of the children’s clubs and report publication;
• weekly ‘Child-Wall Newspaper';
• workshops on conflict resolution and peacebuilding in schools with the teachers and students.

Achievements / Learning Points

The organisation has formed 83 children’s clubs in schools in Sunsari district, of which 40 have so far been active. The children’s clubs have been formed by lower secondary and higher secondary students. The children’s clubs have published a 'Child Wall Newspaper' every week on the theme of children and armed conflict and child rights. The clubs have conducted monthly meetings to review child-related incidents and children’s rights violations in conflict and to publish a report. The clubs have been putting pressure on the conflicting parties to cease impacting on children and to create ‘peace zones’ in child-dominated environments such as schools, roads etc. Most importantly, membership of the children’s clubs has also included children displaced by conflict.

Geographical area of operation

40 schools of Sunsanri district in the Eastern Region.

Funding resources

Unicef.

Associated Organisations

Informal Sector Service Centre.

Stories

When the student wing of the Maoist party forced the closure of schools, the children’s clubs held dialogue with the Maoists and conducted press conferences during the closure of the schools. (N.B. The student wing of the Maoist party has frequently closed down the schools and put forward their various demands.)