The Peace Camp is an I AM PEACE program which brings and creates a platform for young people from different tribal, racial, political, religious and social backgrounds together. The youth are exposed to intercultural learning which many use to embrace diversity in their communities, organizations and families.
The world’s youngest nation has struggled through decades of recurring civil wars majorly caused by total disconnection from each other therefore the Peace Camp allows young people and youth organizations from mostly conflict wrecked states and the capital to engage in dialogue and conflict transformation activities like recited peace poems and drama based on human rights education, gender based violence [GBV] and lessons from the diverse cultures in the country. The youth are exposed to intercultural learning which many use to embrace diversity in their communities, organizations and families.
The Peace Camp is characterized by games majorly board games, volleyball, football, live music performances, dance and drama, and discussions in smaller groups around issues affecting different communities including tribal hate, unemployment, early and forced marriages, gender based violence, arts and many other relevant topics to see a transformed generation of youth who standout to be potential agents of peace and societal stability by creating a peaceful environment for them to interact on social, economic and political issues and promote sustainable development.
"Absolutely, it was a great moment. Thanks to Iam Peace for making the event happen. It was a wonderful camp" David Pitia Jr. commented about one of our Peace Camp events in Rajaf county in the outskirts of Juba
The Peace Camp started since the inception of I AM PEACE in Adjumani in Uganda in 2017 and the program mainly targeted refugees living in Uganda displaced by war since 2013 when conflict broke out between the government of South Sudan and opposition forces. The camp also involved various communities that hosted the refugees and other local partners. It used to be a weekly program, every Saturday afternoon.
The first Peace Camp in Juba was in June 2019 at the Whitaker Community Center, an international peace organization that empower cohorts of peacemakers and entrepreneurs among South Sudan’s dynamic youth. We hold the Peace Camps in Juba on a monthly basis. So far, more than 35 Peace Camp events both in Uganda and South Sudan with an average of 60 people in attendance per event have been conducted. These camps have brought different public speakers who are experts in different fields relevant to our topics or areas of concern and also different organizations that build capacities of young people in different fields including first aid, CV writing, Job ethics, and Public speaking.
Peace Camp Topics
In South Sudan, we held the Peace Camps around different themes including;
Breaking negative cultural practices like child and forced marriages where we talked about the role young people play in breaking these negative norms
Breaking Negative stereotypes across different cultures and communities in South Sudan to promote peaceful coexistence
Mental Health. How can young people can deal with depression and other mental health issues.
Drugs and Alcohol. What the major reasons for alcohol and drug abuse are, how young people can stay away from drugs and over consumption of alcohol
Men4Women. The role men play in ensuring a safe spaces for women and reduce/eliminate sexual harassments, rape, and breaking menstrual stigma caused by men.
In our camp events at refugee camps in Uganda, we talk about some of the vices and ill treatments both the refugees and the host communities impose on each other and we came up with a long list of issues where the young people suggested solutions to these vices practiced by refugees against host communities.
Some of these topics include;
Psychological support to refugees because of the impact of war,
Sensitizing both refugees and host communities of the importance of allowing students study together in one school to reduce the level of ignorance and the bossy feeling among some,
Conducting awareness campaigns to be aware of Uganda’s refugee policies, particularly the Refugees Act 2006,
Encompassing topics for discussion on Inter marriages between refugees and host communities and how beneficial it would be to both parties,
Educating refugees on using the Information, Education, and Communication [IEC] method,
Supporting activities that would enable young people identify their talents and showing them how they can use it for a livelihood, encouraging hosts and refugees’ leaders to resolve underlying problems through dialogue, teaching best farming skills by bringing agricultural experts to demonstrate,
And encouraging refugees to build and create good relationships with the host communities.
David Mono Danga
Comments