An NGO based in Kwale known as the Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection has rolled out a transforming project to ensure non-violence and unlocking potential among the youth. The Kujenga Amani project, with funding from the European Union, is intended to empower the young people using such means as poetry, traditional dances, debates, skits, songs, and artwork in their expressions. This new program hopes to grow peace along the Swahili Coast, a stretch that stretches from Kenya to Tanzania and Mozambique.
According to the project officer, James Chappa, strategic introduction of the programme in schools was to ensure that it effectively reached a larger proportion of the youth. He reiterated that their aim is to empower the youth with decision-making skills that shall usher in a generation that is at peace and prosperous. The three-year initiative being implemented in partnership with the Kwale government has so far formed peace clubs in 12 secondary schools within the region. With the challenges facing youth, we rolled out the peace programme in schools to impart discipline and tolerance among them at an early age,” he said.
Some of the ills covered in the programme include school arsons, drug abuse, and early pregnancies. The teaching in the programme has the objective of shaping the youth to be ambassadors of peace in communities by imbibing peaceful means of conflict resolution and analysis and mitigation of violence.
Amani Clubs Kenya’s national chairperson, Kimani Kibe, hailed the initiative for the profound impact it had in reducing bullying and rivalry between different schools. He reiterated stakeholders’ commitment to reinforcing the pillars of peace and nurturing a responsible generation. “We will ensure learners embrace non-violence to emerge as exemplary citizens,” he said.
The initiative also seeks to sensitize members of Generation Z on the need for peace, law, and order during agitation while seeking good governance and accountability. During training, learners are also equipped with how to conduct peaceful demonstrations, as has been witnessed several times in the recent past in the country, Kibe revealed.
The impacts of such actions have deeply been felt among students, including Ng’ombeni Secondary School Peace Club chairperson Uda Hassan and Kingwede Girls’ Amani Club chairperson Abigail Cherono. Hassan cited weekly sessions focused on fostering a culture of peace, which he said had led to improved discipline and peaceful ways of resolving conflicts among students. Cherono lauded the initiative for peace, arguing that it helps learners identify and nurture their talents, hence improving greatly the cooperation and unity both in the same school and different schools.
This program is a milestone in raising a very proactive and peaceful generation in Kwale and beyond.