October 5, 2022 – From June to August 2022, WPDI ran a series of unique Conflict Resolution courses in secondary schools in the Karamoja Sub-Region, Uganda. The goal of these courses is to encourage peaceful relations among students, and to instil in youth knowledge, skills and attitudes that will help them become more resilient when faced with conflict. Three secondary schools – the Nadunget senior secondary school, Moroto parent senior secondary school and Moroto high school – participated in the program, with 171 (94 Female and 77 Males) students successfully graduating after taking the final test.
During the assessment mission, local authorities requested that the Conflict Resolution Education (CRE) component for primary and secondary schools be extended to more schools in the Karamoja Sub-Region, a recommendation that was taken on board.
The idea of WPDI’s Conflict Resolution Education initiatives is to expand our global flagship program, the Youth Peacemaker Network, which has been designed to help young people become active peacemakers by providing them with the social and psychosocial tools to encourage peace in their underprivileged communities. One participant, Daphine, was proud to join this global network: “I am happy to be a peacemaker because the knowledge and skills gained in conflict resolution education has positively changed my attitude. Before I was short tempered among my peers. I love who I am now compared to before the CRE training. Thank you WPDI for giving us an opportunity to gain life skills that have positively impacted my behavior in school as well as other students who benefited from the CRE classes.”
Saidi, from Moroto district, expressed her appreciation of the program and encouraged WPDI to expand it in her school: “Am a proud peacemaker in my school and community, because I have gained knowledge on how to manage emotions in the past I was a victim of indiscipline at home and school simple arguments were not simple for me it was very hard to manage but now with the skills gained am confident I can manage my emotions positively. WPDI should continue with this program next term again in my school for it is very beneficial to us students.”
For these graduates and their peers, obtaining their certificate is only the beginning of their journey as peacemakers and community builders. It will not be their turn to take action and foster peace and reconciliation by themselves in their classes, their schools but also in their families and their communities. Their enthusiasm is a very positive sign of their willingness to put their newly acquired skills and knowledge to concrete situations. Bearing in mind that the program is fully endorsed by school management and local leaders, we have good hopes that this program will have a positive impact on their communities in the long run.
In partnership with