The Role of Youth In Peace Building
Approximately 6.6 million young people worldwide are currently displaced by armed conflict. Many of them are exposed to violence, try to survive in acute poverty, and are separated from their families and communities.
These young people often face the additional barriers of a lack of sufficient education, health care, protection, livelihood opportunities, recreational activities, friendship, and family support.
As a volunteer with RESPECT Nigeria, an affiliate of RESPECT International, and working with the refugees and displaced people in Nigeria, we work and pray to run out of business. This is because refugees from different parts of Africa, (Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Guinea, etc.) are the product of conflicts and wars, but if there is peace in every aspect of life and in the world at large a time would come when we will have nothing to do.
However, to be realistic, we cannot hope to solve the conflicts of the world, prevent the wars of tomorrow, and ensure progress for perpetuity. This is no excuse for inaction. Today, the silent majority of the world consists of young people, and they remain silent because of the weight of apathy and ignorance.
My goal in peace building and the prevention or transformation of conflict and building a Culture of Peace is to promote the active participation of youth in my society and nation. I will also seek to actively rectify and promote a healthy image of youth participation in public policy discussion in the country, and dispel the notion of youth apathy.
Philosophically, my values are similar to those of the universalism espoused by philosopher Martha Nussbaum, who put forward a paradigm for global peace. We firmly believe that it is only through the acknowledgement of a common humanity that progress towards solving the ailments of our globe can begin.
I will actively encourage young compatriots of our nation to cast off apathy, and join me. We have nothing to lose but our chains. We have a world to win.
For youth to be able to really prevent conflict, first they have to be in peace within themselves and in peace with fellow brothers and sisters; this is the first step to preach peace and prevent conflict.
The second stanza of our National anthem prays to God for our Leaders to know what is right and the youth to know the truth. But what we see and find is the reverse, or I will say prayers not yet answered; our leaders do not know what is right and by neglecting our youth are not promoting peace building. Leaders use innocent youth, to create war, civil unrest, and disturbances because of their selfish and devilish acts. I will also write about poverty and joblessness of youth which is part of why so many youth fall victim of bad leaders.
This is the time privileged youth, who attend or take part in conferences such as these, need to come out, inform, and educate other youth, from the urban to the rural areas of the country.
The role of youth is the immediate action affecting the less privileged youth.
Immediate actions including: organizing educational programs for other youth, and most especially youth in the refugee camps in the host countries such as Nigeria.
Programs on poverty eradication will be organized locally to pass the message to youth to avoid taking money, and other things from leaders, who in turn will be used by the leaders to create conflict in their community in particular, and their country in general.
A face to face campaign will also assist in preaching peace building and conflict transformation.