NGO moves to engage youths as tools for positive change, conflict transformation

The use of young boys and girls as tugs and hoodlums by politicians has gained the attention of a Non governmental organisation (NGO), otherwise known as Search for Common Ground (SFCG), which has been working in conflict sensitive area in Nigeria especially in Plateau since 2010.

Sighting youth vulnerability as a challenge for healthy society, SFCG yesterday in Jos, launched a project tagged “Naija Youth Unite Project”, aimed at engaging and promoting young girls and boys as positive agents of conflict transformation in Plateau State, Nigeria.

Speaking at the event launch, the project Coordinator SFCG, Emmanuel Rita Atsen, said that the project is financed by Bezos Family Foundation for the period of 12 months.
Atsen said that “the project seeks to strengthen the knowledge and skills of young girls and boys within the ages of 12-15 years (Christians and Muslims) in active transformative and participation of boys and girls in peace building and conflict resolution in their communities”.

Our correspondent reports that during the launch, students were selected from 16 schools and 2 orphanages in Jos to attend the event with their parents, school teachers, community leaders and religious leaders were also not left out.

The event was held to explain the nature and scope of the project to participants and to select direct beneficiaries of the project through auditioning of students, who will participate in the project activities.

The Project Coordinator also said, “SFCG will be conducting the activities geared towards trauma awareness, peace building, strategies for strengthening resilience (after traumatic events), leadership and public speaking as well as give an opportunity for participants to find new areas of common ground across dividing lines”.

She said part of the Naija Youth Unite Project activities will include, pairing of residential camps targeting 26 girls and 26 boys, residential camps targeting the combined 52 participants, participants will be paired with a mentor, 13 community projects will be implemented by the participants reaching approximately 2,000-2,500 additional individuals and 26 short videos capturing the stories of the participating young boys and girls, to be produced and aired weekly on a local television, she said.

By Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos