Aburi-Akuapem, Ghana, West Africa
2002
International Youth Leadership Program
Report
“Youth United for Peace
Through Dialogue and Cross Cultural
Communication”
Apeadu Children’s Peace Center
Aburi, Ghana
August 2 – 10, 2002
Young people representing many colors, races
and tribes came from as far away as Japan and as nearby as
Togo. The main themes of the conference, as developed by
the core group and reflected in the daily sessions were:
Speaking from the Heart: Seeking the
Highest Truth
Traditional African Wisdom for Peaceful
Co-existence
Peace Education and Advocacy Skills
Conflict Resolution Techniques
Cross-Cultural Immersion
SESSION ONE
Audrey Kitagawa
We must first understand and care for
ourselves and find balance in our individual lives. The
light within an individual is made brilliant when he or she
speaks with honesty and love.
Every action creates a reaction.
Therefore we must be mindful of our conduct. The
nature of energy’s movement is circular. What we
put forth into the world will return to us.
- - -
SESSION TWO
FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE
Nana Osei Boakye Yiadom
Go to the roots of ethnic violence to understand the misperceptions and reasons for
bad feelings.
Focus on conflict prevention.
There must be a sincere Commission of
Enquiry who can get the facts
straight from the disputing parties.
There must be mediation involving every disputing family member. The
mediator must be from outside and should be very respected by
both sides.
They must have real dialogue. This will take time.
- - -
In relation to self, we need to experience our own basic goodness, have
access to our inner wisdom, and be conscious of our
life’s purpose.
In relation to others, we must trust that each other individual, like
ourself, is innately good, has inner wisdom, and has an
important contribution to make in this world.
Who we are is love, as individuals, nations
and one humanity. Peace education is the guide which
allows us to live the truth of who we are. Peace
education develops the skills, attitudes and knowledge that
open our hearts and minds.
- - -
- - - STRATEGIES
FOR PEACE ADVOCACY Daniel Edah
Determine Goals. Goals need to be defined at the start in a way that can
launch an effort, draw people to it, and sustain it over time.
Target Audience. Who are the people and institutions we need to move?
This includes those who have the authority to deliver the
goods.
Create Messages. Messages rooted in the same basic truth need to be
tailored according to different audiences depending on what
they are ready to hear.
Choose Messenger. Who are the most credible messengers for different
audiences? In some cases, these messengers are experts
whose credibility is largely technical. In other cases,
we need to engage the “authentic” voices of those
that can speak from personal experience.
Develop Delivery. How can we get the target audience to hear the message?
Use a variety of approaches, applied appropriately, and
woven together in a winning mix.
Take Stock of Resources. This includes related past advocacy work,
alliances already in place, staff and other people’s
capacities and political intelligence.
Develop Resources. Identify needed resources that are lacking, look
at alliances that need to be built and other capabilities
crucial to the effort.
Evaluate. Be
able to make mid-course corrections, discarding elements that
aren’t working and finding new ones to put into practice.
- - -
- - - GLOBAL
CAMPAIGN FOR PEACE EDUCATION Olivia Martin
 | ||
The Global Campaign for Peace Education
emerged out of the common vision and aspirations of over 10,000
peace and justice activists that converged at the Hague Appeal
for Peace conference in May 1999. The HAP sees peace education as a participatory process
which changes our way of thinking and that includes an
interrelated array of subjects ranging from human rights to
development/economic justice, the environment, human security,
disarmament, reconciliation, conflict prevention/resolution,
gender studies, non-violence, and international relations
-- as well as multi-culturalism and a promotion of tolerance
and solidarity. The Youth
Website of the Hague Appeal for
Peace offers a peace education kit designed by a team of peace
educators at Columbia University. Also available are
networking opportunities, discussion groups, materials from
around the world, and dedicated support for young people
everywhere to help bring about the emergence of a peaceful and
just world.
- - -
SESSION FOUR
- - - MEDIATION Imoh Colins
Edozie
Mediation is a form of communication to
reach an agreement through the involvement of a third party,
the mediator, who has equal and balanced responsibility to
assist both the parties involved in the conflict. The
central concept is informed consent. Nothing is imposed
on either party, but both parties must be willing to
participate in the process. There are three essential
steps: (1) identifying the problem; (2) finding a solution; (3)
reaching a conclusion.
- - -
- - - CONSENSUS
BUILDING Audrey Kitagawa
Consensus rests upon inclusiveness. A
wise leader brings in as many as possible, ideally, everyone,
into the process. Open dialogue expands individual
consciousness making us willing to share, understand, and know
one another’s view. Then we can apply discernment
and determine whether old beliefs should be altered, whether
new ideas should be accepted, and perhaps whether a newly
discovered truth should be pursued. When we hear truth,
higher truth, we know it to be truth. That knowledge
gives us the ability to broaden ourselves and encompass one
another.
©2003-2004 Children of the Earth, Inc.
