Young Peacebuilders in West Africa
Guided by the principle that youth are key actors to achieve peace, UNAOC develops educational programming to enhance the ability of young people and their organizations to foster mutual respect, understanding and long-term positive relationships between peoples of different cultures and religions.
The Young Peacebuilders in West Africa is designed to engage young women and young men from West Africa in an intercultural dialogue and peacebuilding experience. The aim is to support the growth of networks of young peacebuilders who are equipped with the tools to address stereotypes, prejudice and polarization in order to build more inclusive and peaceful societies in their communities and globally. The programme is implemented in collaboration with the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY).
The programme is intended for young women and young men who are starting their involvement in this field.
20 selected participants will learn and collaborate online and in-person during 12 weeks – from October to December 2016.
Participants will interact online through a series of facilitated modules and in-person during a one-week workshop in Abuja, Nigeria in November.
- Learn about other cultures, faiths and worldviews within and beyond the group to foster intercultural cohesion and collaboration;
- Learn about stereotypes and how to critically analyze them to reduce their prevalence;
- Understand different perspectives in identity-based conflict and gain tools to develop solutions at local, national and regional level and transform conflicts peacefully;
- Develop competences to use different forms of media or expressive arts as a way to create alternative narratives, reduce polarization and promote social inclusion.
- Part 1: online phase . Participants access the course through an online collaborative platform. UNAOC and other trainers facilitate the first few modules of the curriculum, giving an opportunity to participants to get to know each other prior to their first in-person meeting. They also start getting exposed to tools and concepts, engage in discussion and start reflecting on their individual and joint action.
- Part 2: one-week face-to-face workshop. All participants travel to Abuja, Nigeria to complete modules and field visits with trainers and facilitators. They also work together on the development of the group final products and their own action plans.
- Part 3: online follow-up phase. Participants stay connected through the online platform, improve their final products and report on the implementation of their action plans. Each participant must commit to complete three follow up actions in the 2 months following the workshop. This part consolidates the network and follow-up mechanisms, ensuring the members of the group continue to support each other after the close of the project.
Summary: Application Guidelines
This is a call to youth aged 18-25 from West Africa wanting to build inclusive societies through understanding and respect among cultural and religious communities
- Are you between 18 and 25 years old?*
- Are you a citizen of a West African country and do you currently live in this region?**
- Are you interested in taking part in an intercultural learning experience with other young people from West Africa and develop joint actions to promote peace?
- Are you part of a youth-led organization, network or initiative?
- Do you want to increase your ability to contribute to peace and social inclusion in your country and region?
- Are you in the beginning stages of your involvement in this type of work and want to learn more?
If yes, apply now for a chance to be selected for a fully funded participation to UNAOC’s Young Peacebuilders in West Africa program.
Deadline Extended: 6 September 2016
* Applicants selected for this programme must be aged 18-25 at the time of applying and for its total duration (October-December 2016). To be considered eligible, applicants must be born on or between January 1, 1991 and August 15, 1998.
** Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo