How can youths contribute to peace and development in their communities?
This was issue at the center of discussions between experts and young people during a conference in Yaounde on Saturday, 20th July 2019.
The conference was organised by Arc of Peace international, a non governmental organisation that seeks to promote peace, prevent conflict and protect the environment.
The main speaker at the event, Dr Suh I Norbert Fru, political scientist and researcher, told participants that education is essential in making youths become actors of peace and development.
He proposed the personal sociopolitical initiative for peace and development as the way forward. He explained that youths initiative for peace has to begin from the personal level.
Global Peace Ambassador at Global Peace Chain, Mokwe Elomo Jemea epse Medi described youth entrepreneurship as one the key ways of promoting peace and development among young people.
Adding that a business youth who is able to meet up with his immediate needs is less likely to respond favorable to calls for violence.
The founder of the Arc of Peace, Elvis Teke, PhD student in Peace and Conflict resolution and Journalist said peace is a prerequisite for development and urged youths who share a common vision for peace and development to work together.
He defined peace as a state of well-being within one’s self, with his community and his environment.
He also prescribed intercultural exchange as a way out, noting that when youths learn other cultures and travel to other communities the propensity for tolerance, acceptance and reconciliation is higher.
He urge youths who share the vision to entrepreneurial, creative and work in collaboration with state and non state actors to promote peace and development in their communities.