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IPF Local Partner: FOR Zimbabwe IPF Projects: Focal Point & NVETP - Nonviolence Education Traing Project.
Background
Zimbabwe
is never out of the news headlines these days, and tragically for all
the wrong reasons. With the highest rate of inflation anywhere in the
world, currently at 13,900% - the economy has been in free-fall for
several years, creating massive social unrest and chronic food
shortages. Millions have fled the country in search of work, and the
great success story of modern Africa has been reduced to one of the
worst humanitarian crises on the continent. With elections due in 2008,
and the opposition MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) Party now split
into two camps, the danger of escalating political violence is imminent.
Timeline
Three one-day Youth Workshops
1. Epworth
Venue: Epworth Community Church 19th November 2005 43 participants Facilitators: Makios Phiri & Tichaona Kuimba
2. Glen Norah
Venue: Church of the Nazarene 3rd December 2005 38 participants
Facilitators: Rev M C Kuchera & Mrs Mhururu
3. Gweru
Venue: Evangelical Gospel Church 8th December 2006 39 participants Facilitators: Nhamo Sithole & Makios Phiri
Major Outcomes
- Establishment of 3 Youth Peace Clubs on each district
- Creation of Provincial Task Force of local communityy leaders to expand number of trainings in the whole district
- On-going development of curriculm/content for nonviolence trainings
- Youth Peace Clubs now have 3,800 members, with monthly meetings
- 120 Youth participants in 3 workshops
Recommendations & Observations
- Need for an intensive, systematic, and co-ordinated national Nonviolence Training Program with defined objectives, to have a national impact
- More Youth Peace Clubs needed in additional areas
- Need to mass-produce printed training manuals and Nonviolent Training promotional flyers at community gathering points - schools, churches, colleges etc
- Extend training to 2 or 3 days
- Engage adults in implementing Youth Peace Club activities
At the heart of this chaos, The Fellowship of Reconciliation Zimbabwe (FORZ) has created an exciting new project known as Focal Point, and is engaging Zimbabwean Youth in a unique combination of both Active Nonviolence and Poverty Reduction Training. In 2005/06, veteran Peacemaker, and former IFOR President, Akadim Chikandamina, along with nonviolence trainers Makios Phiri and Nhamo Sithole, held workshops in the Epworth, Glen Norah, and Gweru Communities, and established Youth Peace Clubs in each area as part of the ongoing Nonviolence Education Training Program. FORZ have been working on election monitoring and nonviolence training for a number of years, and FORZ member Netsai Mushonga has also developed a programme on gender-based violence as part of the Women Peacemaker Program.
Focal Point
This
year, FORZ have selected some 25 young men and women for training in
garment making, book-binding, and metal fabrication. FORZ provides
materials, pays for school fees, and helps with transport for the
students. FoR England's International Peacemakers Fund has provided
some financial support for the last 2 years to meet these costs, and
continues to raise funds for this essential work.
While grounding the students in the principles and practice of Active Nonviolence, the project will enable them to start their own businesses, rather than struggle to find employment in an economy where 80% are unemployed. Students come from poor families, who could not otherwise pay for an education, or whose parents have fallen victim to the HIV/Aids epidemic that has left 1.6 million orphans in Zimbabwe. The garment-making group will graduate in November, and the other two groups will work as apprentices in industries by the end of the year, before coming back for their examinations in 2008. The projects goal is to free the students from the crushing poverty and economic exclusion that can lead to rising youth violence, and will give them the economic independence and nonviolent skills to transform their communities.
The International Peacemakers Fund continues to raise funds for Focal Point, and work in partnership with Akadim and his team to deliver this project in extraordinarily difficult conditions on the ground. There is a desperate need for an intensive, systematic, and co-ordinated training program, and huge steps have been taken to establish a curriculum, and lay the foundation for a national Nonviolence Training Program - to not only create a culture of peace & nonviolence, but also to remove a culture of docility and fatal passivity by nurturing these youths as tomorrows nonviolent leaders.
In 2007 and 2008, the Focal Point team will build on the considerable experience to date of creating and delivering an active nonviolence curriculum in Zimbabwe, and create local partnerships with church groups, other NGOs, and Trade Unions in Zimbabwe, as well as existing partners such as the Zimbabwe Election Support Network; Women Peacemaker Program Zimbabwe; Zimbabwe Christian Alliance; and Chahwira College & Technical Training College-Harare.
FoR Zimbabwe Akadim Chikandamina E: aki@comone.co.zw T: +263 457 2538
For more information, please contact us.
