Kwale NGO launches peace initiative in schools to curb violence

The Star Kenya

An NGO, Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection, in Kwale has launched a program to curb violence and harness talent among the youth.

Transcript

00:00In the past, young people used talent to achieve their dreams.

00:07They used to create different things, like debates, poetry, public speaking, news anchoring, drawing,

00:17or showing pictures of themselves on the street.

00:20They also used to do modelling, with songs and dances.

00:23They used to show off and achieve their dreams.

00:27The reason why we decided to go to school in Muradiu is because

00:31that's where young people are, and we would like to put them in a safe environment.

00:35So that when young people see them, they don't get confused.

00:38They don't get confused about what they are going through.

00:41But there is a way, if you use courage, they can use it to break the ice.

00:46So, in the case of safety clubs, they teach people how to break the ice,

00:50how to... it's called conflict analysis.

00:53To break the ice, and to look at mitigation measures.

00:56How can they break the ice?

00:58And we look at non-violent ways.

01:00If there is ice in the school, they can push it.

01:04They can go through the school's structures,

01:08and they can push it, and their teachers can break the ice.

01:12In the case of safety clubs, we also want young people,

01:16or they are taught how to go to the mosque,

01:18they can go and sit with their friends,

01:21to embrace dialogue.

01:27Peace clubs have been very pivotal

01:30in making sure that we promote proactive peace

01:34in our learning institutions.

01:38Peace clubs have been at the forefront

01:41of encouraging learners to use dialogue

01:46as a means of solving problems

01:50within schools and outside schools.

01:53Peace clubs have also been very pivotal

01:58in ensuring that we have alternative dispute resolutions within schools.

02:03We have seen that when we engage our learners in proactive peace,

02:10we have been in a position to reduce

02:14the level of school strikes,

02:17in terms of strikes, bullying,

02:20and also school rivalry.

02:24Peace clubs have also managed to ensure that

02:27the students are at peace in themselves,

02:31between themselves, and between schools

02:35and the communities that they border.

02:37So our main aim is to make sure that

02:40we build defenses of peace in our learners

02:44for the purposes of ensuring that

02:47even as they leave school,

02:49they become better citizens,

02:52equipped to deal with life challenges,

02:55and therefore they will not cause a disruption,

02:58but rather they will promote peace

03:01in our learning institutions.

03:03Peace clubs have helped us to build

03:07a strong bond between teachers and students,

03:11and we have also built a strong bond

03:14with our school board,

03:17so that we can continue to ensure that

03:20our students are protected and safe.

03:23We have also started a weekly programme

03:26to ensure that our students are safe

03:29and that they can continue to go to school.

03:33Peace clubs have really helped us

03:36in a very huge and big way,

03:40among us students.

03:42It has really enhanced peace among us,

03:44especially in resolving our conflicts.

03:47Since the peace club was established in our school,

03:51it has really helped us to enhance peace

03:55and resolve conflicts among us

03:57and our teachers also,

03:59and cooperate with each other.

Category

Transcript

Recommended