Issue N° 1 May 2019
Testimonials Discover iBuild Africa's Peace Not Pieces journey through the stories told by its very own peace ambassadors!
Voices Lessons on Wheels: Art as Peace Education for Children Displaced by Armed Conflict in Cameroon.
African Borders Ghana: a pro-peace country with a rich cultural background.
Plant A Seed Find out what Africa's children have to say about peace.
Contents 8
Voices Lessons on Wheels: Art as Peace Education for Children Displaced by Armed Conflict in Cameroon.
12 African Borders Ghana: a pro-peace country with a rich cultural background.
18 Art for Peace
A poetic jouney awaits you with our own Lilya Khazri.
20 Plant A Seed
Find out what the little ones has to say about peace.
24 Testimonials It is time for the successful peace ambassadors of the Peace Not Pieces fellowship to share with us a gilmps of their experience and tell their stories.
32 PEACE 101 Gain a new perspective of peace and conflict.
Since the dawn of humanity, we were at war. We were at war with each other as brothers. We were at war with each other as neighbours. We were at war with each other as colleagues. We were at war with each other as communities. We were at war with each other as societies. We were at war with each other as nations. We were at war with each other as long as we can remember.
Editor's Note
“Sometimes I wonder if the story of Cain and Abel never ended with sorrow, would we have peace today?”
w
hen will we wake up and understand that war is never the answer? Surely, conflict may seem innate to our nature, but should the answer always end with violence? Indeed, we owe a big part of our technological, cultural and social progress to conflict. Be that as it may, don’t you think, my dear readers, that we have lost a big part of our humanity to the ways we solved our conflicts? I think now is too late to answer that question but it is never too late to make peace our reality. In an attempt to search for peace, redefine it and instil it in our young African communities, we have created the Peace Not Pieces magazine. The answer might not be in the hands of the old, the weary and the drained. Yet, it might be in hands of the youth of our African nations, impatient to make a difference, ready to act, and hungry for change. Hence, this platform was created by the young for the young and to the world. Our goal is one, to redefine the word “peace”. African youth hailing from different nations are sharing their visions of a cheerful future and telling the tales of a gloomy past. We welcome you, my dear reader, to turn the pages of hope, read the lines of the young, and understand our stories of struggle and success. Peace Not Pieces is our moto and a bright and peaceful Africa is our ambition. This project is the fruit of Ibuild Africa’s Peace Not Pieces Fellowship. A programme that was launched in early November, 2018 to offer emerging leaders a chance to join a network of peace builders and ambassadors that work to disseminate peace in our young African continent. Over the course of two months, fellows received an extensive training in peace-building and have gained considerable practical skills revolving around themes of peace activism, hate speech, violent extremism, co-existence and challenges in promoting peace and security. The programme was a success crowning all the participants as peace ambassadors in their respective communities. The magazine is the product of the first cohort of the fellowship. Hence, each page you turn is the fruit of much hard work, devotion, and constant training of our own Peace Not Pieces Ambassadors. We hope you enjoy our offering to you this month!
Mohamed Amine Elkohli Editor in Chief
T
oday, while about 40 percent of Africa South of the Sahara have experienced at least one period of civil war, the last months have been an absolute dream to iBuild Africa and PNP team. We brought the PNP fellowship program to life to mainstream the culture of peace and empowering succeeding African generations from the scourge of violence and desperateness.
Today that we witness the first edition of the fruit of the fellows' hard work,
Shokran
for believing in this vision and working towards a future where African youth push themselves past the limits, the stereotypes, and the physical boundaries. for gathering these words of wisdom and hope to amplify the voices of hope and compassion for Africa.
Asante
Afrikanly,
Ghada Zribi
Letter From iBA Founder By 2050, the population of Africa will double, to more than 2.5 billion. In the last recruitment process 150 young Africans expressed interest in joining this peace building journey. Through the first edition of the PNP magazine, I am happy to congratulate Sarra Messaoudi, the fellowship manager, iBuild Africa staff and mentors, and the 31 young multipliers from 19 different African countries who made it through the -9week intensive program that range from the general understanding of Peace, conflict resolution, and personal peace pledge.
Thank you
for remolding the foundation of the perception that Africa is poor even when the system and the society dismissed us.
Ngiyabonga for us without us.
for believing that No Africa
A word
From the PNP Manager! Every action starts with a belief and here at iBuild Africa, we stand for what we believe! We open our doors to hear the fading voices not just the voices of congressmen or newscasters, but the voices of the youth, the voices of the people. People like us, who have never spoken up before. The voices we raise together in protest to the injustice prevailing. Getting louder and louder with the strength of our solidarity. Peace Not Pieces provides a safe platform where youth fellows learn, exchange ideas, and share personal stories in order to revolutionize narratives around peace and expand for greater global impact and advocacy. It simply provides a framework to understand and address the many complex challenges the world faces. United, we created a global grassroots movement embodying oneness with a profound faith in humanity, diversity and social responsibility affirming that youth is more than capable of fighting the world's most violent conflicts.I believe that peace is possible and that beyond the boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, and nationality; we can build inclusive communities across social divides and reach one universal humanity. Global challenges call for global solutions and fundamentally requires new ways of thinking. Thus, peace comes from being able to contribute with our best efforts and of securing a space for others to build societies that support and empower everyone. All I can say now, ladies and gentlemen, is No Africa For Us Without Us and remember it is Peace... Not Pieces !
Sarra Messoudi Peace Not Pieces Manager
Contributors Meet the amazing editorial team of the Peace Not Pieces Magazine!
Mohamed Amine El Kohli Editor in chief
Bismark Akoto Reporter/Content Creator
Lilia Khazri Content Creator
Ayenka Franklin Editor/Content Creator
Emna Makhlouf Editor/Content Creator
Ahimbisibwe Roger Content Creator
Martin Woja Santino Reproter/Content Creator
Okech Annete Adhiambo Content Creator
Editorial T
By Ayenka Franklin
here was a place in the world where dreams had all gone, where hope had dispersed and its youth turned desolate destitute. Today in that same place in the world dreams are being rebuilt with creative young minds, and hope restored with the countless initiatives developed by the young for the young and for all. That place is our continent, Africa, that land is our home where we are making paradises out of the mud.
Hurray for the self-serving Hurray for the unconscious self They are the destroyers of hope. Let the gods of fearless young African writers, Exposing the truths of all injustices, Under the African skies Be delivered from bigotry, For in the vocabulary of Nietzsche, It is they that make both supermen and madmen.
In this first edition of iBuild Africa’s Peace Not Pieces Magazine, youths tell stories of struggle and success coming from places of suffering in different countries of Africa. These stories radiate and some are coiled with fury, disciplined resolve and empathy. The persistence of repression, terrorism, inequality, poverty and suffering in Africa is matched by an equal persistence of youth activism, capacity development and creative peace thinking from Cape to Cairo. Its focus on non-traditional storytelling is to express youth capacity through compassion, dance, children’s agency and love to relate and respond to peace and justice on the continent. How do youths respond to political, social, economic and cultural differences when each individual has a unique story of their humanity? PNP Magazine tells the tales of youth and young people’s exploits because stories guide the course of our behaviours, decisions and actions. It tells stories based on the huge amounts of data on human biology, behaviour, interaction and the context of Africa. At the same time, it opens up the creative imaginative minds that have struck the collective soul of continent with stories edged in imagery, song, poetry and creative writing for peace and reconciliation. This manner of storytelling represents the man as the man, the woman as woman and the child as the child. Imagine a photograph or sketch that portrays an outcaste, a victim of rape or violence. You will never easily forget to remember when you have to look into the painting or a picture of soldiers burning villages as unarmed civilians flee for shelter even in more dangerous places. You will be turning the pages this magazine to unforgettable moments of African lifestyle that will change the stereotype of war and immiseration in Africa.
Ayenka Frank Magazine Editor
Voices Lessons on Wheels: Art as Peace Education for Children Displaced by Armed Conflict in Cameroon. By Ayenka Franklin iBuild Africa Peace Ambassador.
“LOW is an effort to guarantee schooling and artistic creativity for children of school age in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon by creating a spaces for the kids to learn at home and express their thoughts about peace.”
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n estimated three hundred thousand children are being denied the right to education in English Speaking Cameroon. Over three hundred have been kidnapped for going to school in defiance of policy by the regime in Cameroon and separatist movements. Accusing fingers have been pointed by both sides on the violation of children’s rights to education, but the situation worsens daily with both party’s incapacity to protect schools and children from violence and the inability to learn. While the regime in Cameroon in its so-called attempt to ensure the status quo of the republic, and the separatists fighters use the education of children and youth to leverage their demands for a negotiated settlement of the civil war in Cameroon, Lessons on Wheels (LOW) has devised another means to ensure that children of school age within the circumference of its reach can play and learn about peace and justice. 8 Voices
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
The lead for Lessons on Wheels told PNP Magazine that:
“LOW is an effort to guarantee schooling and artistic creativity for children of school age in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon by creating a spaces for the kids to learn at home and express their thoughts about peace.� To evaluate the results of the project, we spoke to two beneficiaries of the project, -10yearold Bongfen Laura and -12year-old Ebong Martin who have expressed their idea of peace as a dove carrying an olive branch and the ability to learn. To Laura, peace is being pure of heart as a dove and at the same time having the ability to allow others (the olive branch) to thrive as the colour green represented tolerance and growth for her.
Bongfen Laura's peace art
9 Voices
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
Co-founded in 2016 after the demand for education reforms by teachers and lawyers was crushed by the regime’s rebuttal of social dialogue as a hidden political agenda, that subsequently led to strikes and school boycott, the Lessons on Wheels leadership championed by Mr. Yongka Divine designed an amateur art for peace curriculum to improve peace-thinking skills for children of school age. Aided by video projection displays of local fine art and symbols of peace, music as Mr Leo’s “Ver tah ker a dze nyang” (all we want is peace), with volunteer teachers explaining the meaning to the participants and asking them to design story-based activities about what peace means to them.
Video Projection Home Learning in Kumba. By Lessons on Wheels Talking to Mr Yongka about this creative idea to travel from locality to locality giving home lessons to children affected by armed conflict, he insisted that the intended aim of LOW’s Project is to “use the Khan Academy and Coursera for refugees online platforms to teach kids the 3Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic), but since we are in the conflict setting it is important to inform the mindsets of kids with peace thinking.” The aim of this armature Curriculum that stands with professionally designed lessons by the Khan Academy and Coursera for refugees and displace persons is to ensure that an entire generation of enthusiastic learners should not be misplaced by armed conflict and the bigotry from government propaganda and separatist movements. 10 Voices
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
Martin sees his drawing as a form of expression her thoughts and feelings. He describes the colours of his drawing as
“a source of insight into the minds of war lovers and consequence on education for young people his age who are viewed as incapable of independent decision making.�
Ebong Martin's peace art In spite of the number of challenges as electricity failure and the constant threats from state and non-state armed groups, the co-founders and youth leaders of Books on Wheels are pleased that some children are having fun to learn in a different context (video projection), especially about peace.
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Peace Not Pieces Magazine
African Borders GHANA IN FOCUS A
By Bismark Akoto
fter organizing six successive elections since 1992 where power has alternated between two political parties, Ghana has gained a reputation as one of the most politically stable countries in Africa. After Ghana’s independence in 1957, Flqg of Ghqnq there were a series of coups and counter coups until 1992 where the country was ushered back into constitutional rule. Ghana is home to over 100 ethnic groups with the Akan’s being the largest making up about %48.3. With a population of about 28.83 millionpeople, Ghana has always been a country where religious tolerance for instance has been high as people of different ethnic, religious and political persuasions have and continue to live together as one people. For instance, the major Christian and Islamic celebrations are recognized as national holidays. Also, Christian as well as Islamic and Traditional prayers are said at the start of almost every major national event especially during the Independence Day Celebrations. This important understanding largely has its roots tied in the national secondary school system established under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president. Under this school system, all young person’s irrespective of origin can attend any of the boarding schools scattered across the country. 12 African Borders
This policy has proven to be key to Ghana’s peacefulness as a nation and has promoted cross-tribal understanding of language, economy and cultural practices. One cannot talk about Ghana without talking about the Ashanti Kingdom as it is one of the few surviving kingdoms in the world. The current Ashanti King, OtumfuoOsei Tutu II enstooled in 1999 has been a symbol of peace for the Ashanti people and Ghana as a whole. Chieftaincy disputes no matter how serious they are, are settled in the Ashantihene’s court rather than the law courts where the process is usually antagonistic.
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
The Ashanti Kingdom
Shutterstock & Wikimedia Commons
A common feature of all Ghanaian cultures is a love of festivals. Barley a week goes without one or other town or village holding its major annual celebrations. These ceremonies present the opportunity to showcase the rich culture of the people. Chiefs, Queens and people dress in their rich traditional wears while dignitaries and every other person is entertained with rich display of customs and tradition.
Dance Session at PANAFEST 2015 | Š S Pakhrin / Flickr
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124 African Borders
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Famous Wli Waterfalls, the higest watefall in Ghana and West Africa. Ghana is not only blessed with natural resources such as gold, diamond, and crude oil, but also boasts of some of the most amazing and attractive tourist sites in the world such as Wli waterfall, the highest waterfall in Ghana and West Africa. Located in the Volta region of Ghana, the waterfall measures about 143 meters from the upper fall to the plunge pool below it making it a natural attraction worth visiting. Lovers of wildlife and nature are not left out as the Mole National Park in Northern Ghana is home to over 90 species of mammals, reptiles, birds, butterflies and some endangered species such as elephants (laxodonta Africana) and lions (pantheraleo). Furthermore, there are many forts, castles and beautiful beaches along the southern coast of Ghana as well as a plethora of natural cultural riches to visit for adventure and relaxation. It is thus not surprising that CNN Travel listed Ghana as the 4th place to visit in 2019.
16 African Borders
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Ghanian Cuisine: a traditional Fufu dish Ghanaian cuisine is said to be one of the best cuisines in Africa. There are many local dishes worth tasting on a visit to this wonderful country. Made from boiled cassava and plantain into a sticky paste, fufu is enjoyed by many Ghanaians especially in the Eastern and Ashanti regions. Fufu can however be found in Northern Ghana as well. The only difference is the yam flavor which Northern Ghanaians prefer instead.
Ghanian Cuisine: Banku and Tilapia Recipe with Pepper Sauce Enjoyed with hot pepper and a touch of diced onions and tomatoes, banku is prepared with a mix of fermented corn and cassava dough which is mostly enjoyed in southern Ghana. Although similar to banku, Tuo Zaafi is a bit soft and less sticky. It is enjoyed mostly in Northern Ghana and prepared by a mixture of corn dough and a little cassava. 17 African Borders
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Until we come your way with another country in focus, make sure to add Ghana to the list of African counties you intend visiting in the coming months.
18 African Borders
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Peace 4 Art Peace Not Pieces By Lilia Khazri
As a child, I used to ask the stars if we could live a day without the lousy harms? if we could chill-out and forget about our scars? I was wondering if there is another planet where the crowd nurses a harmony without a single fight, where only peace plays the role of the guiding light, where only peace is held up between the arms so pretty tight, where only peace has the strongest might, Where everyone around looks drowned in felicity from the first sight, and everybody›s soul remains as free as a flying kite. As a child, I used to fetch peace not segregated pieces I used to forgive to reach the peace In the name of peace, I fancied to see a plenary fellowship, not weak creatures on their knees, Not able to find their freedom keys complaining about gaining some additional fees. As a child, within my mind, I used to fancy peace, to wonder how does it look alike? seem alike? sound alike? or even smell alike? 19 Art for Peace
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
Sometimes, I perceive peace in the voices that charm the ear and echo with a subtle resonance in the soul, Does that make me sound as a fool? Other times, I sense peace in the freshening breeze that strikes my brow with a cooling hand. And within the freshness of some pulse of air from an invisible sea.
As a child, I used to wonder Now as an adult I became an achiever not a fool, but for the sake of peace I became a fighter defying bigotries to make the world lighter, lending my hand to the weak to make life seem easier, Spreading euphoric grins to live happier isn’t peace a radiant serenity derived from a morning sky? Isn’t peace the music of little kids’ soft smiles that keeps on singing swift melodies in my veins? As I child, I used to believe in the existence of peace Now, as an adult, I am the “peace” you are made of “peace”
20 Art for Peace
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
Plant a Seed Ideas for Peace
By Bismark Akoto
P
eace is an essential ingredient to our overall That was a very deep perspective from wellbeing. Absence of peace and harmony a -10year-old girl and a lesson for us breeds chaos which has dire consequences to reflect upon. Peace, according to on the development of nations. The effects little Benedicta, is inherent to human of chaos and war on women and children are nature and a blessing from God. It is profound. This calls for massive education as our duty to preserve peace in its innate well as holding peace to sensitize the people form. However, since the dawn of specifically the youth. Young 'When we plant trees, we plant the seeds for People are leaders of both today and tomorrow. Their voices and peace and seeds for hope.' inputs in issues such as peace Wangari Maathai cannot be overlooked. It is in Kenyan political activist this light that the iBuild Africa team reached out to a Ghanaian primary school human civilization, we fought against to ask their students what peace means to them. this inherent blessing born into us and The goal is to hear their voices and listen to what replaced it with hatred, violence, and they have to teach us, adults. This is an invitation never-ending conflicts. Why not adopt to understand the meaning of peace in the this -10 year-old interpretation of peace inexperienced eyes of a child. We have reached in our lives? Isn’t it a simple thing to do? out to five pupils between the ages of 5 and 14 to get their take on what peace means to them and to give them an opportunity to plant their own seed of peace.
'
'
Benedicta Attiye, a 10 year-old basic five pupil, explain that for peace to prevail, we should be tolerant with our neighbors even when we are provoked by them. In her words: “Peace is a nature of God. Let us be tolerant and love one another.
When insulted, give a smile. When slapped, just say thank you. In every country and town, we need peace. This is the nature of God’s children. What a peaceful home we have!”
21 Plant a Seed
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
Chris Bamfo, a -9 year-old basic five pupil, had an amazing perspective to share.
“Peace brings togetherness and respect to each other. We need peace in our countries because it brings us together as one people. Peace is good and must have a place in our countries. Even the Bible says we must have peace amongst us.” Chris
believes
that
Chris is trying to stress the importance of peace as the main impetus for unity. We will see that not only Chris hold this view but also a number of other children. Chris understands that when people are united, they can surmount any challenge. He understands that conflict is a result of segregation. Therefore, if peace brings unity, then unity brings development.
“We are one people with a common destiny. We need to show respect, accommodate and tolerate everybody in our communities to bring about peace. Let us continue to live together as one big family.” These are the words of -14 yearold Bello Fenuku, a basic six pupil. Again, the same notions are being repeated. That is to say, notions such as peace as a blessing from God, togetherness, respect, tolerance, and love. As it appears, children understand peace better than we do since they have got all the essential ingredients covered. According to young Bello, we need to treat each other as we do with family members. Tolerance and respect should be the core values in this family. For Bello, this how we could achieve peace in the world.
22 Plant a Seed
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
According to -10year-old Christabel Aboagye, a basic 5 pupil,
“Peace is very essential for human progress. Peace promotes national unity and brings development. We should work towards achieving peace in our various communities.”
Christabel shares a similar perspective as Chris. Peace promotes unity and brings development. Peace is derived from harmony and unity. As adults, the only thing we understand about unity is power as the example goes "United we stand, divided we fall". However, we often fail to look at the other side of the coin and understand that in unity there is peace and a potential for development. Kafui Kumashie, -13 year-old, summarizes this point perfectly as he explains:
“Peace brings about love, hope, faith and most importantly unity. Peace is a time where there is no war, no killings, no robbery and everybody live in harmony. If there is peace, we will forever live happily with one another. Without peace, families cannot plan together, countries cannot develop. Our forefathers fought for and lived for peace. We are the future leaders and we need peace to transform our nations. Let us continue to live in peace and harmony.” These are very refreshing perspectives of young pupils on peace. We cannot deny the importance of peace to our world today. We should all strive to be peace agents in our communities or wherever we find ourselves. Together we will make the world a much better place.
23 Plant a Seed
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
Kafui Kumashie's orginal words
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Peace Not Pieces Magazine
Testimonials End violence, seek understanding, and find Peace... By M. Amine ELkohli and Martin Woja Santino
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Peace Not Pieces Magazine
“If you want to end the war then instead of sending guns, send books. Instead of sending tanks, send pens. Instead of sending soldiers, send teachers.” Malala Yousafzai (17 year-old Noble Peace Laureate)
T
hroughout the course of two months, iBuild Africa organized a fellowship to mentor young African leaders on a variety of peacebuilding topics such as conflict resolution/transformation, human security, empathic speech, peace activism, hate speech, violent extremism, and co-existence. The fellowship’s core objective is to replace the old paradigm of conflicts with a new paradigm of peace. The African youth will be at the center of this movement leading a new generation that aspires to achieve peace, push the boundaries of human understanding, and cure the world of the everlasting virus, socalled violence. Martin Luther King once said: “Violence is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding: it seeks to annihilate rather than convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends up defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.” Africa has a long way to go in order to eradicate all types of on-going conflicts that are tearing this beautiful, young, and culturally rich continent apart. After 50 years of African independence, the situation did not improve at all. In fact, the number of armed conflicts is yet on the rise. Issues related to peace and 26 Testimonials
security in Africa are heatedly debated on an international level. Likewise, the prevailing discourse on these matters has been largely pessimistic. However, Africa’s youth should not surrender to this growing “Afro-pessimistic” Rhetoric. Hence, iBuild Africa initiated the Peace Not Pieces fellowship as a platform for African youth to challenge this monolithic and reductionist narrative and break from the cycle of violence in our African societies. This is the main goal iBuild Africa is striving towards, and through such initiative, we are confident that such pessimistic narrative will eventually, be challenged. IBuild Africa has so far achieved part of this remarkable goal by equipping a talented group of African youth composed of 31 participants hailing from different nationalities with instrumental tools of change and leadership skills. In a period of two months and with the guidance of eight mentors and facilitators, fellows gained considerable knowledge on peacebuilding and activism, hence, deserving the titles of peace ambassadors. Now, it is time for these amazing and talented Africans to tell their PNP experience, share with us what they have learned, what they are doing to give back to their communities, and how did the fellowship helped change their lives.
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
''If I had to pick one word to describe the Peace Not Piece Fellowship, I would say it is powerful in so many different ways'' Okech Annete explains, ''First, because of the immense knowledge of the mentors for their sensitiveness straight approach to the topics handled during the programme. Second, now I am able to approach and see violence from different corners. Presently, I am able to manage and find my own inner peace by appreciating diversity and maintaining healthy boundaries with others.
A Peace and meditation circle led by Okech Annete Okech Annete, a Peace Not Pieces fellow, is now offering the community a chance to learn how meditation can help them achieve inner peace and be able to develop positive thinking, gain emotional resilience, and increase human capacities such as empathy and kindness. She works to empower youth workers and community leaders by offering a sustainable space where they can coordinate their activities and events in their own communities.
''The information received in the training was quite interesting as it highlighted issues concerning present day conflict and how they can be resolved. I have gained a truly new perspective on what conflict actually is. Conflicts were never a bad thing, they are most often good because, through them, we speak our minds and express our thoughts. Therefore, when there is conflict, we must learn how to approach it and make sure it would not lead to violence.''
Elton Dunn Yoko, another ambassador for the Peace Not Pieces Fellowship, reflects upon his experience and captures the essence of the fellowship, its impact and indeed its success. 27 Testimonials
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
Elton Dunn Yoko was inspired by the Peace Not Pieces Fellowship to take on new challenges and search for new opportunities in order to become a true ambassador of peace to the world. In his locally-based youth-led organization, Elton Dunn Yoko, was appropriating the knowledge he gained through the PNP fellowship by running a peace forum program where he collects peace signatures and urges young people to pledge for peace. His work received great positive feedback from the youth in his community. He hopes that more opportunities such as the PNP fellowship would become numerous since he believes that sharing, understanding, and working together is the only way we could move forward as Africans.
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Elton Dunn Yoko speaking to the youth of his comuunity abut peace pledge
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
Ahimbisibwe Rogers describes his journey with the PNP fellowship as a vessel of revelation which has gained him a new insight into peacebuilding and conflict resolution. “…I'm an individual who thought that the journey to peace was a mystery one. I was kind of lost in oblivion but this came to pass. My perception has changed drastically, PEACE is possible, and I greatly feel the urge to place a tangible contribution towards the possibility of peace on the African continent…” Ahimbisibwe Rogers on his interpretation of peace: “I learned that peace is not just an end itself, but a means to the end, and that peace is not just the absence of war, but a state of calmness, wholesomeness, satisfaction and contentment within one’s soul.” Ayenka Franklin, a PNP and Rotary peace fellow describes his experience as a pivotal moment where his undestanding of peace and conflict has shifted towards a more personal meaning. The most important moment in his PNP journey was when he learned about the Cameroon anglophone crisis.
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“What I have learned from people, especially with the anglophone crisis in Cameroon, is that more than anything they crave security, justice, strong institutions, freedom and living in peace with their neighbors. This underscore both the complexity of peace especially after a community has been torn apart by conflict and have opened up deep fissures of mistrust between neighbors. Sometimes it takes a change of narratives to move through the process of healing those divides to find common ground, and rebuilding the kinds of systems that enable people to come back together so they can resolve disagreements.” Ayenka Franklin summarizes his takeaway from the PNP fellowship as the following: Through the PNP fellowship, I have enlarged the picture of conflict resolution. I believe, getting people to sit down, and talk about differences, and sources of conflict before it turns violent is a major part the peace process. Yet the most important takeaway from the fellowship courses is that peace is not the end, but the process of handling different forms of conflict nonviolently.
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
Ayenka is currently working on a peacebuilding project proposal, titled “Arts as the art of Peace� that would transform the arts and crafts into means of livelihoods for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Cameroon. When asked about their experiences, each PNP fellow has his own unique story to tell. However, most of the fellows agree on one thing. The fellowship was a platform where they felt they were all connected. They got in touch with their African identity and felt that they have a duty to fulfil. They shared one goal; bringing an end to violence, seeking understanding and disseminating peace all over Africa. What follows are the voices of all Peace Not Pieces ambassadors describing their experiences and sharing their own interpretation of peace: I must confess, this has been an incredibly awesome journey of knowledge acquisition. My knowledge about the meaning of peace has greatly changed as I no more see peace as the mere absence of war but rather refers to a continuous and a fluid state of harmonious living between people where attention is given to issues such as fundamental human rights and so on. BISMARK AKOTO I have learned a lot from my journey in the PNP fellowship; since through this amazing program, I have been able to grasp the true essence of bringing change rather than only wanting for change. Kritika Rani Reekhaye 30 Testimonials
Peace Not Pieces Magazine
PNP assignments threw weekly challenges that exclusively taught me how to think, meditate, visualize, and realize problems or gaps to be closed and solved. The fact that some of the assignments were perception based seeking my opinion. This increased my participation and confidence that I too could actually give or become a solution to the problems. Claire Nesige The PNP fellowship has inspired me in tremendous ways as I have learned how unambiguously peace related issues can be engaged and how narratives around peace can shift through our individual contributions. LUCKY NNADALU CHINWIKE
My PNP Fellowship journey has been a very informative, instructive and an exciting one. I have learnt the different narratives about Peace and how it is imperative for me to put myself in the shoes of others in order to understand their viewpoint, find a common ground and work our way towards achieving peace. Richmond Setrana
I am very much grateful for the PNP fellowship as it has been a life changing experience for me in regards to the knowledge I have acquired and the network I have also built with other peace-building gurus around Arica. Augustine Macarthy
This adventure has been insanely rich. I was, above all impressed by how much the internet could benefit the cause of peace if only we had both the willpower and the courage to mold this tool to our desires instead of letting it shape us with all the hatred and negativity it carries sometimes. This, in and of itself, was a lesson in positivity, determination, creativity and uniqueness. I learned that it was actually POSSIBLE to change the system using the system, to be courageous to give voice to your freedom. That is what we have done. This alone is simply mind-blowing. Emna Makhlouf
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Peace 101 Understanding peace through the lenses of the African youth.
By Ahimbisibwe Rogers and Okech Annete
W
e asked Ahimbisibwe Rogers and an attitude, a way of thinking about the Okech Annete Adhiambo, fellows beauty that still remains. Living with absolute and peace ambassadors of the optimism, developing everlasting and yielding Peace not Pieces program, to share with us freedom as it penetrates our hearts. their own interpretation and understanding of peace. The Peace is a following is Peace according to Ahimbisibwe Rogers and Okech Annete place where what they Adhiambo, fellows and peace ambassadors of the Peace not Pieces you find believe peace program... hope that stands for the days based on their unique experiences and their will once again be bright as the sun, and those contniuous struggle to achieve peace in their days don’t have to find you lying six feet under communities. a garden of vegetables. Peace is believing in a higher power that keeps the hope, faith, and According to Ahimbisibwe Rogers, you don’t love alive. It’s a place where the diseased world have to sing a cane sweet song to coat the dies at the door, servants take seats and bitterness. Peace is 33 Peace Not Pieces
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feast with kings. A place where cracked feet, pale skins, swollen bellies, and torn clothes are topped with true joy and happiness every core of the heart underneath. To some people, peace is a long-term feeling, the wicks of peace flames grow weaker each day. Because people respond better to threats than persuasion, because no one cares about the underdogs, because after nights of sleeping on cardboards and reeds, nursing wounded souls and feeding on their leftovers, the wealthy will stand and say” Pain is inevitable, Peace is a reputation that you must pay for but you can’t buy. Even Peace Circles, Michal Miron the wealthy will seek for true love, joy, power, more wealth and they’ll define achieving all the three as peace. Peace in reality the poor and the rich wish to have. Peace is the currency. It fulfills true joy, love, faith, comfort freedom and power. Peace is not corrupt. Peace persuaded the heroes and heroines of that we all praise for bringing freedom to our land. Peace is a reward to many sacrifices. We are still building pillars to keep it strong upon our black land. In this land where my peace flourishes and I yield to it. I find peace staring into the flames of my candle, not the chandelier that hangs on the ceiling. I find peace thinking about glory, wrapping darkness in a shroud. I find Peace in listening to children rhyme to songs in their native language, skipping ropes, 34 Peace Not Pieces
cracking their feet sore and still find the place in discovering that peace is an ultimate treasure and we are all blessed to hold and have one way or the other. To laugh often and much: to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you’ve lived.. That to me is the true effigy of peace! In the other hand, Okech Annete believes that peace as a concept is diverse. What "Peace" may mean in a particular context, may not be its meaning in another. It is essential to seek ideas that would inform our understanding of the universal cliché of peace as the absence of war, because contrary to this perspective, conflict is viewed as a reaction to neglect of human needs, which could be political, socio-economic or even religious. Since it is important to address these needs to promote peace and to prevent the possibilities of conflicts escalating into violence, youths can create platforms for advocacy on equal access to opportunities, human rights, citizen participation, empowerment and exclusivity in governance and policy issues. We can do this through, organizing youth conferences and platforms, fostering partnerships with local Peace Not Pieces Magazine
media or community outreach campaigns in the areas of interests. We can also focus on peacebuilding in our respective communities at grassroots levels. Youths with peace and conflict resolution skills can provide peace education in schools and communities, by organizing generational exchanges and building community dialogue initiatives.
Where peace is analyzed from the intrapersonal (inner peace) perspective, then we ought to focus on all the spiritual and psycho-social needs of the individual. We can create initiatives to address delinquencies, depressions, drug abuse, poverty, and security depending on the niche of one's operations.
Where peace is viewed on a global note as the absence of war and human rights insurance, then we have to work to stop wars, human trafficking, terrorism, gender-based violence and any other form of mass atrocity. Therefore, we will have the obligation to work on advocacy through campaigning in movements and through petitions on national and regional institutions, by bringing to attention our interests and needs that ought to be addressed through policy formulation and implementation.
In a nutshell, as youth we need to find out what peace means within the limits of its context, see what is already being done, think of how it can be improved and develop a cocktail!
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Peace Not Pieces Magazine Editorial Team Peace Not Pieces Manager: Sarra Messaoudi
Peace Ambassadors and Succesful Peace Not Pieces Fellows
Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Amine Elkohli Editor/ Content creator: Ayenka Franklin Creative Editor/ Content creator: Emna Makhloufi Magazine Graphic Designer: Mohamed Amine Elkohli Reporter/Content Creator: Bismark Akoto
Reporter/Content Creator: Martin Woja Santino Content Creator: Lilia Khazri Content Creator: Okech Annete Adhiambo
Content Creator: Ahimbisibwe Roger
Art works Cover Page: Nii Samuel | Ghana Children's Drawings: 10 year-old Bongfen Laura and-12 year-old Ebong Martin The Ashanti Kingdom: Shutterstock & Wikimedia Commons
Lilia Khazri Adewumi, Olalekan Samuel Okech Annete Adhiambo patrick Irakoze Menue Bainda Emna Makhlouf Ahimniswe Rogers Kehinde Odanye Ikechukwu Victor Ayenka Franklin Akoto Bismark Elton Dunn Yoko Ngobeu Mimbe Herve Cedric Udonnamdirim Chima Akawor Kritika Rani Reekhaye Eljroni Anis Yakubu Abubakar dikite sadiki Abdalla Yahya Augustine Macarthy Adebobola Omowon Hassan Mohamed Hassan Brusly Clichy Lickiby Clifford Gyetuah Lucky Chinwike Nnadalu Martin Woja Santino Suzane William Mollel Richmond Akpene Setrana Mohamed A. Bah. Nesige Claire Baghouri Kholoud Sanze Daramo Freddy Patrick
Peace Circles: Michal Miron Editorial Poem: Ayenka Franklin, an unpublished poem in Art as the Art of Peace Dance Session at PANAFEST 2015 | Š S Pakhrin / Flickr
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To our dear Mentors, A simple thank you is not enough to express our gratitude towards the people who have didicated hours and hours of their time and effort to succesfuly complete our fellows training. We are thankful to all the mentors who have helped make this fellowship possible. Thank you for the guidance and knowledge you bestowed on our Peace Not Pieces fellows. The insights you shared with us, moments spent with us, and your guidance during the course of our training will always be cherished.
Our Mentors Wejdane Ben Chaabane
Bochum Samuel Mihigo Alex
Apho Cisse Yasmine Hammami
Amina Tayeb
Bacem Majdoub 37 Peace Not Pieces
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No Africa for us without us.
