BY EVELYN ZORZOR
In a bid to curb violence and criminality in the Niger Delta, Search for Common Ground (SFCG), an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has trained youths of Delta state on conflict transformation and non-adversarial engagement.
The 3 day training tagged “Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta” was held in Warri, Delta State
The SFCG Capacity Building and Training Coordinator, Philip Kalio, said the essence of the training was to build skills, capacity and input in them the knowledge that would enable them address conflict in a non-adversarial manner.
According to Kalio, “this training would help youths engage their leaders in a manner that would mot exacerbate any conflict situation.
“Youths are the strength of violence and that is why we chose this category of persons in the community. And if you are talking of systemic drivers of conflict, the youths are always involved in the issues of crime more than even the leaders that encourage violence.
“Hence they are very critical and key to stemming down criminality and violence in our society. Their capacity needs to be built on the manner that they can approach conflict or misunderstanding without being aggressive”, he said.
Kalio stressed that community leaders should understand that the youth and women can contribute to the development of a community and that they should also be involved in the leadership and governance of the community. That way, according to him, stability and peace can be achieved.
The SFCG Lead Consultant-Training, Dubi Sonam, said the organization expects that the participants would gain knowledge around peace building and thus be able to differentiate between conflict and violence in their communities.
He said they should be able to talk to their community stakeholders on the impact and importance of peace building with specific reference to how they can come together and avert the spread of violence and conflict in their communities.
While encouraging youths to always carry peace building messages around the world, he said the training, sponsored by the European Union (EU) was in two batches and carried out in three Niger Delta states which include Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State.
Beneficiaries of the training thanked SFCG for the impactful knowledge given to them.
In the words of one of the participants Stanley Ozomaro, “I am so happy with the knowledge I have gained so far. This training is completely a mindset-shift for me.
“With this training, I have come to know that there is a difference between conflict and violence. Also, I have come to understand that it is wrong to judge someone based on his physical appearance.
“It is my duty now to take this vital knowledge to the youth of Ozoro community and major stakeholder in order to avert crime and resolve conflict.” he added.