By Adamu IMAM, Bauchi
Search for Common Ground Hands Over 15 Man Peace, Security Committees to YLN as Project End
By Adamu IMAM, Bauchi
The search for common ground peace building initiative has ended with handing over 15 Man peace and security committees established during the implementation of Nigeria youth care project in Yelwa and Gudum Sayawa communities in Bauchi as part of the renew vigour to sustain peaceful coexistence in various Bauchi.
According to the project coordinator of Search for Common Ground Munnira Askira says basically their responsibility is to make sure they sustain that peace initiative even after the project.
"what they would be doing in their communities is promoting interfaith harmony and also solving issues that has to do with interfaith interrelated crises and tension tha raises in the communities"
"Early warning and response mechanism in their communities as well, this is what they would be doing as their roles", She said.
While on challenges she explained further, "normally the community we are working with we don't experience too much challenges because acceptance is what have gotten and sometimes in organizing our activities or community events"
"in terms of mobilization this where we have challenges but we were able to over come them because we included some of their members to join our movement to aid in that mobilization of people to come out for the activities" Askira maintained.
Moreso, Gift Omoniwa, the Director programs explained that during the project they recorded success because of their collaborative efforts, "in the last twenty 24 months through the Nigeria youth care project, Search for Common Ground and the Youth Leaders Network YLN has established Bauchi youth religious advocacy network a group of 22 young people who represent youth lead organizations network, who their capacity has been built, towards promoting freedom of religion and beliefs in Bauchi state".
She added that, we also witnessed today, such as "social media platforms such as social media influencers and community peace platform as well who have been supported and stakeholders who have attested to the impacted of the project"
"And for us as an organization we are hopeful that, this project gains should be sustain and the impact would continue to be felt in Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau states. She maintained.
Seun Justin, Young Leaders Network also appreciated the effort of other groups who contributed immensely to the success of the project, "Yelwa and Gudum our communities are hotspot for interreligious conflicts over the two years and that's the reason we decided to domesticate our engagements and even with other communities around, like Anguwan Kusu, Tsakani, Kagadama and Lushi these are conflicting areas"
"we planned together execute together also we oriented them, to understand the concept of identity and peaceful coexistence, this one of the initiative we developed".
And we also supported these young leaders to develop community driving initiatives, that tents to institutionalized peace among the various communities we have engaged.
"Part of the success we have been receiving calls to come and implement similar initiatives that we cannot because of limited resources. He concluded.
During the closing event many young peace advocates were engaged and showcased their experiences, while taking the project initiatives with seriousness it deserves.
Various peace stakeholders and networks graced the closing ceremony while reflecting on the achievements and the way forward in peace building among communities in Bauchi state and beyond.
Tags:
PEACE BUILDING