By Allen P. Lablah, in Sanniquellie, Liberia
The Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) in Liberia and the international ZOA refugee group are in the forefront of post-conflict efforts to consolidate peace and reconciliation in Liberia’s northeastern Nimba County.
Nimba, Liberia’s second most populous counties, comprises several ethnic groups and it faces challenges in in building peace like other around Liberia.
Against this backdrop, the YMCA and ZOA has formally launched a peace building and resolution program through a community dialogue in the mining town of Yekepa, Nimba County aimed at strengthening social cohesion in schools and at the community level.
The three-year Swedish YMCA funded peace building program was launched on Tuesday and will be implemented by YMCA Liberia and ZOA.
Giving the overview of the three years peace building program, Mr. Marcus Freeman, YMCA Operations Manager said the program is currently running in five of the fifteen counties of Liberia namely, Nimba, Montserrado , L ofa , Grand Cape and Margibi Counties respectively.
Mr. Freeman said the program is focusing on four major activities including; the establishment of school peace clubs, conflict resolution and management, civic trust, community leaders forum etc.
According to the YMCA official, activities will be carried out through school peace clubs and conflict resolution and management to foster reconciliation.
Conflict resolution discussions will be held in schools and community levels, while the civic trust and community leaders’ forum will engage community residents in respecting and how they can build trust and confidence in their leaders.
Mr. Freeman said the aim and objective of the peace building program is to strengthen conflict resolution at the local and national levels.
He further indicated that strengthening social cohesion and respecting each other in respective of ethnic backgrounds will be the hallmark of the peace program.
Mr. Paul P. NAjue, ZOA-Liberia Peacebuilding Coordinator said the program will also augment and renew social interactions among citizens after the 2017 heated electoral period.
Mr. NAjue noted that after elections, there can be a political barriers between and among citizens, which tend to obstruct peace activities in the community, barriers the 3-year project intends to break such obstacle.
The ZOA-Liberia Peace building Coordinator said the peace building program seeks to complement government’s efforts in addressing peace and reconciliation across the country.
This week’s launch marks the formal commencement of the program in Nimba, although the peace building program had earlier kicked off in the other targeted counties.
The program, which was held at the YMCA Compound in Yekepa, brought together cross sections of citizens including Commissioner Rebecca Mulbah Camp 4 Township, Horatio Mulbah YMCA Yekepa Board Chairman, Yekepa Camp Masters, students, Youths amongst others.