“Moses of Ethiopia, taking us to the promise land” is how Dr Abiy Ahmed is described by majority Ethiopians.

Abiy was born in Beshasha, Ethiopia on 15 August 1976 to a Muslim father and an Ethiopian Orthodox mother. He was educated in Computer Science and went on to bag a Masters degree in Transformational Leadership from Greenwich University, London in 2011 and another Masters in Business Administration from the Leadstar College of Management and Leadership in Addis Ababa in 2013. He holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from the Institute for Peace and Security Studies at the Addis Ababa University in 2017. As a young man, he actively participated in the armed struggle against the communist regime in Ethiopia and then served in the Ethiopian army. Dr Abiy Ahmed was elected into the Ethiopian parliament in 2010 and he later became prime minister in 2018.

Involvement in Peace Process

Upon becoming prime minister, Abiy made efforts to bring about democratic processes that will improve the Ethiopian economy, resolving the country’s long border conflict with Eritrea. In 2018, Abiy announced that his government will adhere to the 2002 peace agreement that sought to put an end to the border conflict that had raged for over a decade. By this singular act, Abiy improved the relationship between the two countries leading to a restoration of diplomatic ties in trade, economics and communications. Borders were equally opened, a fit signifying the end of over 20 years of hostility between the two countries.

As a peace practitioner, Abiy had participated in some peace and reconciliation processes within the African continent, serving as a mediator in some conflicts. Abiy mediated in conflicts between Kenya and Somali, Sudan’s civil conflict, and in Eritrea and Djibouti.

Building bridges and demolishing walls became a virtue been preached and practised by one of the youngest leaders on the African continent, a former intelligence officer and ultimately, a peace lover and maker. Dr Abiy’s peacebuilding work provides the following lessons:

1. Promote “MEDEMER” concept of coming together to solve a conflict

“Medemer” is an Amharic term popularised by Abiy that means “addition” or translated as synergy or coming together. Immediately Abiy was made prime minister, he reminded Ethiopians that, with only with forgiveness, love and hope could Ethiopia as a country go forward. This philosophy proposes that when different groups come together to seek common ways of resolving a conflict, they can reach a compromise and move forward. This concept is important to bear in mind as peacebuilders so we ensure to convene inclusive peace processes that generate broadly accepted solutions.

2. Political Inclusiveness and Reforms

Abiy granted amnesty to around 60,000 political prisoners and opposition figures. He abolished press censorship and committed to legal reforms of repressive and oppressive laws thereby paving the way for the respect of human rights. He also invited opposition members previously labelled terrorists to participate in the democratization process. He appointed a leading opposition figure as the Chairwoman of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia. Abiy’s work reminds us to make decisions that are representative of the diversity in our local communities.

3. Gender Balance and Religious Tolerance

Abiy empowered women by appointing 50% of women in his cabinet. By empowering women politically, he demonstrated his understanding of the unique potentials of women in society. He manages the age-long fragmented conflicts along the religious divides majorly between the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and Muslims. This could be a result of his mixed parenting and understanding of the tenets and principles of both religions, an experience he uses when mediating.

There’s so much to learn from Dr Abiy in the field of global peace. Dr Abiy is a global role model that can serve as an inspiration to today’s African peacebuilders. What do you think of his life and times?

Written by:

Olayiwola Lawal,
Member, Programs Unit,
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation.

Nadia was awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 at just 25 years for her “efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict”. She emerged as a champion against Gender-Based Violence of women and minorities after suffering rape and sexual abuse. A member of the Yazidi minority, she is the first Iraqi to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She has also bagged several other international recognitions including the First Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking of the United Nations (2016), Council of Europe Havel Award for Human Rights (2016), Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (2016) and the Bambi Award (2019).

Nadia Murad is the founder of Nadia’s Initiative, an organization dedicated to “helping women and children victimized by genocide, mass atrocities, and human trafficking to heal and rebuild their lives and communities.” Nadia Murad is the founder of Nadia’s Initiative, an organization dedicated to “helping women and children victimized by genocide, mass atrocities, and human trafficking to heal and rebuild their lives and communities. Although Nadia has been celebrated globally, her story is one of intense pain and horror that emanates from the brutal rule of ISIS in Iraq.

Nadia Murad was born in 1993 to a family of farmers in Kocho, a small village in Sinjar District, Iraq. Her family are from the Yazidi ethnic and religious minority predominantly found in Northern Iraq. Nadia’s life soon turned upside down as a student in Sinjar at the age of 19. In August 2014, the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group spread across northern Iraq capturing territory and co-opting them into their so-called religious caliphate. Sinjar, together with the Yazidi ethnic group who are not Muslims were captured numbering 50,000 and forced to flee into the mountains. The IS fighters killed 600 people in Sinjar including Nadia’s mother and 6 of her brothers and step-brothers.

Nadia was captured on 15 August 2014 and carried off to Mosul to become a sex slave, one of over 6,700 Yazidi women taken captive by the Islamic State. She successfully escaped from her captor through an unlocked door and was smuggled out of ISIS territory to a refugee camp by November 2014. Nadia later shared her story with reporters of La Libre Belgique, the Belgian daily newspaper from the Rwanga camp in February 2015 and later received asylum from Germany where she is now based.

Nadia has become a powerful voice for the victims and survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence. She emerged as the first person to brief the United Nations Security Council on human trafficking and conflict in December 2016. She launched her nonprofit Nadia’s Initiative in September 2016. Nadia is also an author of a book based on her life titled The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity and My Fight Against the Islamic State.

Nadia is a youth who has tirelessly campaigned to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. She is an inspiration to youth globally especially those ravaged by war and conflict.

The following lessons are derived from Nadia’s life and work.

1.Transform your pain into a tool for change. Millions of people around the world have experienced and continue to live in the midst of violent conflict. In these contexts, gross violations of peoples’ rights are committed including sexual and gender-based violence and war crimes. The victims end up scarred for long periods of times with many succumbing to a post-traumatic stress disorder, self-abuse and similar violent behaviour. Nadia suffered some of the worst of these realities as a teenager that was kidnapped, repeatedly raped and sold into sexual slavery. Besides her own pain, she suffered horrifying losses of over 6 close loved ones before having to fight for her life in ISIS territory by escaping from captivity. The young Nadia could have retreated into the background to nurse her wounds and avoid the stigma associated with victims of sexual violence. But not Nadia! She stood tall a few months after finding rescue in a refugee camp and spoke her truth freely to ensure that such heinous crimes were not swept under the carpet. Nadia did not stop there but vowed to fight for the survivors of gender-based violence as well as victims of genocide such as the Yazidis through her non-profit organisation, Nadia’s Initiative. Her determination to stamp out this evil that befell her has informed her high-level advocacy making her the first person to address the United Nations Security Council in 2015 and taking her to The White House in 2019 to garner support for her cause from President Donald Trump of the United States of America.

2. Speak out against long-rooted injustice anywhere you see it. Nadia comes from the minority Yazidi ethnic group. This group has been persecuted for ages by other ethnic groups in the Middle East especially in places where they live such as northern Iraq, Syria and Turkey. The Yazidi are different from the Arabs with their distinct religion and culture including their dressing and traditional norms. Thus, they have been a target of oppression throughout their history from the Ottoman Empire of modern-day Turkey who tried to convert them to Sunni Islam to Saddam Hussein’s arabisation campaigns to turn them to Arabs. In 2014, the IS massacre saw the genocide of thousands of Yazidi men and enforced sexual slavery of women and girls leading to the emigration of tens of thousands of Yazidis from their ancestral homeland in Iraqi Kurdistan to several parts of Europe especially Germany. Nadia has sought to bring her people’s cause to the global spotlight. Through her Nadia’s Initiative, she draws the attention of the world to the plight of her people and provides much-needed succour to the Yazidis displaced in Iraq and across the world. Nadia wears her roots as a badge of honour and continues to advocate for them to be settled and for peace to return to their ancestral homeland. As youth peacebuilders, it does not matter how rooted the injustice is, you have to fight it spiritedly and you can make a change.

3. Denounce war and fight for peace. Nadia has consistently spoken out on the ills of war and how it only benefits warmongers. She argues that women easily become targets in war and are used as weapons though sexual slavery. She has maintained that in the absence of war, such brazen violence against women and girls would not be tolerated. Nadia’s message is war does no one any good and that is exactly the message that Building Blocks for Peace continues to preach in its work with local communities in Nigeria and its global advocacy. Conflict is inevitable but violence is never an option. We simply have to find a peaceful way to resolve our differences through dialogue, negotiation, mediation amongst other conflict management techniques.

Are you faced with a similar situation like that of Nadia, transform your pain and mobilise people for a change. “It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.”― Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Written by:

Obamara Victor Ayodeji
Partnership Member,
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation,
research@bbforpeace.org

Juan Manuel Santos was born on 10 August 1951 in Bogota, Colombia to one of the country’s most influential families. His great-great-grandfather’s siblings fiercely fought against Spanish troops in the early part of the 19th century and were a determining factor in helping to secure Colombian independence. His great-uncle, Eduardo Santos, was president of Colombia in the late 1930s while his father and uncle ran Colombia’s main newspaper El Tiempo, which belonged to their family. Juan attended Colegio San Carlos private school in Bogota and joined the Colombian Navy in 1967. On leaving the navy in 1971, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Kansas in 1973 and a Master’s in Economic Development from the London School of Economics as well as a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University. His distinguished career includes work as a journalist, editor, Ministerial positions in Foreign Trade, Finance and Defense before becoming president in 2010, a position he held till 2018. Santos began negotiations with the FARC rebels in 2012 and reached a historic peace agreement in 2016.

Juan Manual Santos is a disciplined pragmatist by nature who is committed to his country and has fought for peace throughout his life. As a soldier, he waged war against illegal armed groups and as President secured a peace agreement with Latin America’s oldest and largest insurgency, the FARC against all odds.

As young peacebuilders, we can derive several peacebuilding lessons from Santos when we reflect on his life and work such as:

1. Be deliberate and strategic about peacebuilding

Peace is attainable if you can be deliberate and strategic. Previous Colombian governments had attempted peace, like the notable efforts by former President Andrés Pastrana Arango whose 1999–2002 peace talks ended tragically with the FARC hijacking an aeroplane and kidnapping a senator. Given this tense environment, how, then, could one achieve what had seemed impossible and where several people had failed? For many, it is daunting to have to confront such a task with no clear blueprint. Santos began, emphasizing the need to have a goal before taking action. Action without direction rarely takes anyone very far, and those without a goal in mind will be hard-pressed to make the same sort of progress as individuals with a final objective, no matter how realistic. Like many around him, Santos grew up dreaming of peace in his country. However, it seemed like magic, intangible and unlikely to exist. Likewise, youth peacebuilders have always stepped up to the occasion whenever it was needed. During the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria, Building Blocks for Peace Foundation swung into action to reduce the impact of the crises on the most vulnerable in the society through the sharing by providing palliatives in local communities in Ibadan, Nigeria.

2. You have to be Different to Make a Difference

Empathy plays a vital role in peace processes. This was portrayed by Santos, by choosing to value the lives of FARC members, unlike his predecessors; he tried to approach the reconciliation process in a new way. First, he chose a different way of tackling the FARC problems that is; he learnt from the mistakes of his predecessors and drew knowledge from the peace process across the globe. Second, he embraced empathy. As Colombia’s first foreign trade minister, Santos changed the business culture by opening the economy to the global market. As Minister of Finance, he oversaw one of the worst economic recessions in the country’s history and made tough choices to rectify it. Later, as Minister of National Defense, he led efforts against the FARC, while changing government tactics towards the guerillas to pave a way toward negotiation. In each role, he learned how to use his present position to influence his ultimate goal and the importance of staying true to his beliefs even when meeting with resistance.

Santos emphasized the need for empathetic leadership. Coming from a politician who wields significant influence, this was extremely refreshing. In many cases, strategic decisions probably look good on paper, for instance in terms of saving money or resources, but lose their lustre when it becomes apparent how they affect real people, particularly the most vulnerable. Leaders on all levels, especially those in our community, should take intentional steps to ensure that empathy is at the core of every decision they make. In creating his way, Santos looked to the wisdom of those who came before him.

3. Look Beyond Setbacks

When Juan Manuel Santos became President of Colombia in a landslide victory, the winds appeared to be in Santos’ favour, cheered by those who favoured his efforts against the guerillas. However, things changed when he again started to push for peace. “I was warned,” he reflected, “and I knew that people were going to try to say, or my opposers would say, you’re a traitor.” Support for Santos shifted, and he noted how he was elected by the right in one election and re-elected by the left in another. Despite the sway in political support, Santos stayed the course toward peace, which appeared to be certain in 2016 when an agreement was brokered between the FARC and the Colombian government. However, Santos was shocked when the Colombian people rejected the agreement. “A flame of hope had been lit in Cartagena when we signed the agreement in the presence of world leaders, and now that flame appeared to be suddenly snuffed out,” he shared during his Nobel lecture. But Santos would not yield. He knew peace was close and remained steadfast in pursuing it. He never allowed the setback to deter him from achieving the set goal which is peace. His perseverance paid off at the end of the day. Juan Manuel Santos, showed the will of a being who is willing to do anything to have a peaceful environment. This is a man who had a goal and set out to achieve this goal. Eventually amidst all challenges victory was achieved. In the same vein, youth peacebuilders are challenging the stereotypes of youth as violence perpetrators and making an impact with their very limited resources in various areas including conflict prevention, climate change, sustainable livelihood and gender empowerment.

Written by:

Olokeogun, Kemi Sogo.
Research Assistant,
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation.
research@bbforpeace.org

“Extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people” This was how the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced President Barack Obama as its choice for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, praising his active stance against nuclear non-proliferation and engaging the Arab world in the search for peace and security. Barack Obama’s emergence in 2009 was at a very crucial time in world history- shortly after the economic recession. As the President of the United States of America from 2009 to 2017, he represented the new dawn of international politics -one driven by the multilateral desire to find new ways to solve global challenges. President Obama is a record-breaker in many respects- the first African-American President of the US who enjoyed a stellar political career as an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004 and a US senator from 2005 to 2008. He however had to overcome several hurdles in his march to becoming the American President and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 4, 1961, to an American mother, Ann Dunham, and an African father, Barack Obama Sr originally from Kenya who was on a scholarship at the University of Hawaii. He soon moved with his parents to Seattle before the parents divorced in March 1964. Obama then spent four years in Indonesia where his mother moved to after she remarried in March 1965. On his return to Honolulu in 1971 to live with his maternal grandparents, he attended Punahou School and went on to Occidental College after winning prestigious scholarships. Obama graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Columbia University in 1983 and eventually with a law degree from the Harvard Law School in 1991. Meanwhile, he had worked as a community organizer as well as a summer associate in between his educational pursuits. Obama lectured at the University of Chicago from 1992 to 1996 before beginning his political career with an election to the Illinois Senate in 1996.

Obama’s life and times should cause peacebuilders to ponder on the following lessons :

1. Turn early setbacks into successes.

Just as one of the holy books note ‘not to despise the days of little beginnings’, Obama faced severe challenges in his childhood. From an absent father to frequent changes in learning environments in the US and Indonesia to his experiments with drugs and alcohol in his teen years, he could easily have passed for a troubled teen with a very bleak future. Instead, Obama transformed his absentee father reality into a vow to be present for his children, and with excellent grades and dogged perseverance worked his way up to become the first African-American President of the United States! As youth particularly in the Global South of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, we may have experienced societal deprivation in our formative years. However, if we start with the little resources available, we can positively influence our environments and become the change we seek. Rather than dwelling solely on your issues or shortcomings, look beyond your affairs and consider how you can become a solution to the injustice or pain in your local communities. Obama had doubts about who he was and no doubt encountered racism and bullying on his mixed heritage. He did not allow any of these stop him as they only made him stronger and more determined to excel and impact his community.

2. Set audacious goals and work to achieve them

Obama’s life reminds us of the importance of setting a high bar for our accomplishments. He had barely any significant political experience when he ran for Illinois state legislature and won in 1996. Some years earlier, he had only organized a political advocacy campaign called Project Vote that galvanized African-Americans to vote in Chicago. Despite his inadequate political experience, he aspired for a high political post in his state and won it. Characteristically, Obama met with remarkable success later as the US Senator in 2004 before finally breaking the glass ceiling in 2008 with his emergence as the 44th President of the United States. As young people, it is important to remind ourselves not to let our inexperience keep us from reaching for the stars. While it is advantageous to have experience in a particular field of endeavor, it is more important to be passionate and committed to whatever cause you are involved in. At Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, we are passionate about transforming young people into agents of peace in their local communities. We are driven by our firm belief that young people can take the lead in peacebuilding to ensure peace and security first in Nigeria which is our context and then in Africa and finally in the world. Obama’s life teaches us that it is okay to have little or no experience as far as you have a blueprint of how you want your life to turn out and you start working on it from the start.

3. Build a strong support system to get you through the tough times

The journey is long and tough. Everyone is bound to get tired at a point and consider throwing in the towel. This is why having a support system is crucial to make you realize why you set out to accomplish great things in the first place and to help you get back on track. Family is one support system that Obama has always relied upon. Despite being raised in a broken home, he bonded with his maternal grandparents as well as his Indonesian step-father and drew comfort and solace from his mother and Indonesian half-sister. Since then, the family he created has been a source of strength for him. Obama married Michelle in 1992 and has two daughters, Sasha and Malia who he constantly praises for providing him with a renewed sense of purpose as seen in his autobiographies- Dreams from my Father and Audacity of Hope. A support system in peacebuilding is also very important to avoid burning-out and straying away from the course you have charted for yourself. At BBforPeace, we draw our strength from the incredible team of volunteers who have become like family- each giving their all selflessly to advance the cause of peacebuilding. We also draw support and encouragement from fellow youth peacebuilder in Nigeria. In 2011, Obama announced his re-election campaign for 2012 in a video titled “It Begins with Us”. The earlier we started understanding that change begins with us, a better world begins with us, the faster we will get things done and the earlier we’ll achieve our goals. Just like Obama, Peacebuilders all over the world should not be overwhelmed by happenings around us but instead say, YES WE CAN!

Written by

Kofoworola Elegbede.
Media Team Member,
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation.
research@bbforpeace.org

Who then is Albert Al-Gore Jnr.?

Albert Arnold Gore Jr. is an American politician and environmentalist. Born on 31st March 1948 in Washington D.C to Albert Gore Snr, a long-time US Senator and Pauline Gore, he attended the prestigious St Albans School from 1956 to 1965 where he actively partook in sports including football, discus and basketball. He then went on to study law at Harvard. Gore was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War but enlisted in the U.S. army in August 1969 and served as a military journalist. With just 7 months left in his enlistment, Gore was assigned to Vietnam in January 1971 where he served with the 20th Army Brigade in Bien Hoa. Albert Gore married Mary Elizabeth Tipper and has 4 children.

Albert is an American politician who served as the 45th Vice President of the United States under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001. He subsequently emerged as the Democratic Presidential Nominee in the 2000 elections but lost to George W Bush. Nevertheless, outside of politics, Albert is best known as an environmental activist and author whose work in 2007 earned him the Nobel Peace Prize of 2007. He has always advocated for climate change dating back to the early 1990s when he published the book, Earth in the Balance: Forging A New Common Purpose where he emphasized the problem of global warming. After the loss of the 2000 elections, he channeled his energies towards global awareness on climate change resulting in the award-winning documentary — An Inconvenient Truth in 2006.

As young and experienced peacebuilders, Gore’s life and works produce several lessons for us including:

1. Never keep silent in the midst of societal challenges– Gore was very instrumental in raising global awareness on climate change. He consistently campaigned for a sustainable environment and the mitigation and adaptation of climate change. He became aware of global warming at the age of 20 when one of his professors at Harvard who was monitoring carbon dioxide from the top of a volcano in Hawaii showed him the acceleration of the greenhouse effect. When Albert Al-Gore became a congressman, he invited his old professor to testify on Capitol Hill with other scientists. Growing up as a young American, As a reporter at Tennessean, Gore deployed his flair for journalism to investigate and uncovered political and bribery cases which resulted in convictions. As peacebuilders, we must be concerned about how our environment, the occurring challenges and find ways of solving the issues.

2. Leverage on science and technology to promote public policies– In this age where world leaders, politicians and policy makers continue to dispute the reality of climate change, we have to place the focus on the science that proves that our planet is in danger. Gore used his influence as a former Vice President of the United States to advocate the cause of climate change awareness. He had introduced the concept of the information superhighway into the public debate many years earlier and, even as a Senator, had been the prime force behind the High-Performance Computing Act. Vice-President Gore led in the development of the National Information Infrastructure as well as the Global Information Infrastructure, and other initiatives to enhance electronic communication. He continued his commitment to environmental issues, particularly in the areas of greenhouse gas emissions, national wetlands policy, and development of fuel-efficient vehicles.

3. Learn to Compromise- At the peak of his political career, Gore lost the 2000 presidential elections to George W. Bush in a very controversial manner despite winning popular vote. After some weeks of legal argument and contentions, he conceded defeat to the Republican candidate. In his concession speech, Gore noted that while he was disappointed and disagreed with the Supreme Court verdict that ended his campaign, ”partisan rancor must now be put aside “and tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.” Seven years later, Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to environmental issues.

Today, Albert Gore is one of the leading voices on Climate Change in the world and remains a mentor for all young peacebuilders. I would love to meet with him one day to discuss how to better advocate for climate change action.

Written by:

Emmanuel Elegbede,
Media Team Member,
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation.
research@bbforpeace.org

Born in Bathua village, Chittagong, in Bangladesh on June 28, 1940, to a Bengali Muslim family, Yunus later moved to the city in Chittagong and gained admission to the famous Chittagong Collegiate School soon after. He went on to complete his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Economics at Dhaka University in 1960 and 1961 respectively. He began a career as a lecturer in economics at Chittagong but soon left and obtained his PhD in Economics at Vanderbilt University, the United States of America in 1971. As Assistant Professor of Economics at Middle Tennessee State University from 1969-1972, he actively worked with other Bangladeshis in the diaspora to start the Bangladesh Information Center in 1971 and the publication of the Bangladesh Newsletter during the 1971 Bangladesh Civil War. Upon his return home, he joined the Chittagong University as Professor of Economics. Yunus witnessed the devastating effect of the 1974 famine on his people in Bangladeshi and realized that poor people could be uplifted by providing long-term loans to kickstart their businesses. He developed this idea and launched the Grameen Bank in 1983. He provided small loans to the poor who did not have collaterals and were unable to get loans from traditional banks. The loans were to support entrepreneurial pursuits and raise the loan holders out of poverty. Grameen Bank reports that these loans have been very successful with repayment rates as high as 95-98%.

Yunus’s innovative work has made him a recipient of several other awards. These include the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010.

Yunus’ life and times inspire us peacebuilders in the following ways:

1.Derive innovative ways to fight poverty- Rather than concede to the popular notion that poverty is present in every society, Yunus sought for new ways to fight the menace. He did not wait for highly placed government officials or policymakers to make a change. He took the initiative and introduced the micro-credit idea that has now become a feature of development strategies in developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Innovation to fight poverty is particularly important for peacebuilders in this age of COVID-19 which has deepened inequalities and deprivation. Look around your community and consider how you can change the financial circumstances of vulnerable people around you. One opportunity that comes to mind is remote work and the use of digital technologies. Could you teach or provide these opportunities to people in your community to ensure another source of income?

2.Let people drive your peacebuilding solutions- Grameen Bank emerged due to the severe impact of the famine on the Bangladeshi people. Yunus studied it carefully and determined the solution that could meet the needs of his immediate environment. He did not just bring a preconceived solution and force it on the people he sought to serve. Likewise, as peacebuilders, carry out needs assessments before your interventions to be sure people need them. Then, involve the community in the design and implementation of your projects. This way, your intervention is most impactful.

3.Scale up your solutions– Be willing to share your innovation to help people outside your local community. You can change the world one step at a time. Yunus took his idea globally and now billions of people around the world are benefiting from his innovation. Start local but go global. Microcredit is widely used around the world and praised as having “enormous potential as a tool for poverty alleviation.”

4.People over profit- As leaders, it is important to put people’s interest far over selfish gains. Yunus priority was to lift his people out of poverty and not to sniff profits out of his peoples’ predicament. After observing the famine of 1974 and visiting several poor communities in his country, Yunus made up his mind to focus on poverty eradication interventions.  In 1976, Yunus discovered that very small loans could make a disproportionate difference to a poor person.

Before him, microloans to poor people without any financial security appeared to be an impossible idea. Yunus made it possible and his people are happy for it. Be like Yunus and do the impossible.

Written by:
Allwell Akhigbe.
Research Director,
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation.

What is a society without women? Have you ever imagined the existence of the universe without them?

The active contribution of the strengths and skills of women would create a more developed society. For instance, research by Forbes has revealed that countries, where the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been contained, have women as the head of their governments. Thus, women play great roles in the immediate society they find themselves and the world at large when given the chance to do so.

Women have played very important roles in peacebuilding as well. Indeed, Wangari Muta Maathai is an excellent example of women peacebuilders who have made an impact under difficult conditions.

Wangari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize of 2004 for her contribution to “sustainable development, democracy and peace” becoming the first black African woman to receive the prestigious honour. She was a political activist, environmentalist and prolific writer. Born in 1940 in Kenya, Wangari obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Mount St Scholastica and Master’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh both in the United States. She went on to get a PhD in Veterinary Anatomy from the University of Kenya becoming the first woman in East and Central Africa to do so. She began a career in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and became an associate professor in 1977.  A hardworking woman, Wangari’s activism in favour of women development led her to become the Chairman of the National Council of Women in Kenya. She was able to effortlessly attain work-life balance by combining her professional achievements with raising a family. Wangari passed away in September 2011 after raising the bar for African women. 

Wangari was a major force to be reckoned with the Kenyan political space serving as an opposition politician to the Daniel Arap Moi’s regime. She founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977 to fight deforestation which threatened the means of subsistence of the agricultural population in Kenya. Through the movement, she advocated for the planting of trees and adoption of ecological best practices thus becoming an inspiration for tree-planting campaigns across the world.

Wangari’s life and work showcase several lessons that we could imbibe as young peacebuilders:

1)         Active participation locally and internationally: Wangari was influential in fighting for democracy and conservation in her local context in Kenya but she was also very committed internationally. She served on the boards of different organizations including the United Nation’s Secretary-General Advisory Board on Disarmament where she volunteered to provide counsel to the Secretary-General on matters relating to Register of Conventional Arms, good governance and peacebuilding in West Africa, anti-personnel land mines and small arms.

2)         Fight to protect the environment: Environmental conversation is a practice by which humans save their immediate environment from disintegrating. When an environment is conserved, it is obtainable that plants and animals will flourish accordingly since humans depend on them for survival. This kind of failure in the ecosystem can come in different forms such as loss of animals of different species, pollution of all kinds and human activities. Maathai was as well an advocate for human rights issues about women and the prevention of AIDS.  Whatever our primary focuses as peacebuilders, we must include the environmental dimension to ensure our planet is more sustainable and safe for future generations.

3)         Empower women and girls: Wangari did not shy away from participating actively in politics despite her gender thus leading to her success with her sweeping victory in the Kenyan National Assembly in 2002. She went on to become the Assistant Minister of Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife in her country. Women and girls have a lot to offer that is often swept under the carpet particularly in the patriarchal nature of African societies. Peacebuilders should focus on educating the girl child and ensuring a level playing field for women to contribute to the development of their societies.

4) Think globally and act locally: Wangari embodied this idea of thinking globally and acting locally. Her local organisation, Green Belt Movement inspired village women to plant trees in their local community was just her local idea of beautifying the community. By focusing on making a change in her local context, Wangari got the chance to create a global impact on environmental conservation and democracy. As peacebuilders, no matter the role you are playing in the various institutions where you belong, effortlessly put in your best no matter how hard it may seem as you never know when the international spotlight would shine on you just like it did on Wangari.

Written By:

Anthonia Folashade Adetayo,
Member, Welfare Unit,
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation

Shirin Ebadi, Iranian social justice champion made the above statement in a speech to millions of women at the inauguration of the Nobel Women Initiative in Canada in 2006.  That statement embodies the essence of Shirin’s life and work contributing to peace in Iran.

Shirin is an Iranian political and human rights activist and lawyer as well as the Founder of Defenders of Human Rights Center in 2001 in Iran who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 in recognition of her outstanding work fighting inequalities and social deprivation in Iran. It was a long walk to recognition for her as the first Muslim woman to win the prize.

Born on June 21, 1947 to the family of Professor of Law, Prof Mohammed Ali Ebadi in the northwestern state of Hamedan in Iran. Shirin’s family soon moved to the capital city, Tehran, in search of greener pastures. She had her education in the capital city and graduated from the Department of Law, University of Tehran in 1969. She quickly followed up with an internship at the Ministry of Justice that lasted six months and became the first female Judge in Iran. Achieving such a feat at a tender age inspired her to pursue her doctorate and become a Chief Magistrate in 1975 breaking records as both the youngest person and the first woman to attain such a height. However, the 1979 Islamic Revolution led to demotion from that coveted position to that of a clerk in the same court she presided over.

Undeterred by this major setback, she applied to practice law privately which was rejected severally keeping her out of practice for over a decade. She devoted this period to writing books and advocating for human rights which unfortunately led to her incarceration for 4 weeks and subsequent imprisonment of 18 months. Shirin has been a champion for human rights especially of women and children. She founded the Society for Protecting the Rights of Child in 1995 and the Human Rights Defender Centre in 2001 to cater for the most vulnerable populations in Iran.  Shirin’s advocacy for human rights, child rights and democracy drew admiration from Iranian citizens and the international community leading to her award of the distinguished Nobel Peace Prize.  In the aftermath of the award, she scaled up her impact and founded the Nobel Women Initiatives to promote human rights with a focus on women and children rights as well as democracy across the globe.

What lessons can we draw from Shirin’s work as youth peacebuilders?

The following come easily to my mind.

1.  Youth as the centerpiece of Human right Advocacy

From my experience promoting peace at Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, young people have been determined to be creative and determined enough to make sufficient impact in their societies. Shirin’s story reminds us of the glass ceilings she broke in her career and advocacy for the vulnerable section of the society as a young woman. She rose up to the limiting factors in the Iranian society and triumphed against all odds. As a young person, face your fears with courage just as Shirin did.

2.  Adopt non-violent methods to create lasting change in your local community.

Young people do not need to counter violence with force. Mahatma Gandhi said that ‘An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind’. It is possible to make changes by different non-violent means. Non-violence is at the heart of BB4PEACE’s strategy through peace education campaigns for young people. Shirin chose to use the law to fight for the oppressed rather than break the law.

3. Be a Peace Ambassador always.

It is not enough for you to be propagating peace and security within your community or society while your actions speak otherwise. Imagine if Shirin stood aloof when it was time to defend those in need, that will surely have brought no change and her desire to make a change would have been a mere wish. Stand for what you believe in and make sure your actions reflect what your words convey.

There are no excuses to give for not getting involved in changing your society. Shirin grew up in a very conservative environment that did not give her room to harness her abilities freely. The volatility of the region towards women rights, the frustration of demotion in her chosen career, the imprisonment was what defined her early life, yet she forged ahead purposefully. So, shelve that excuse and get to work and make that change that your society needs. There is that one person somewhere waiting to be rescued by you, but here you are, still contemplating. Show up!

Written By

Ismail Amodu
Member of Media Unit,
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation

Jimmy is an American politician, philanthropist and former farmer who served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981, a Senator from 1963 to 1967 and the 76th Governor of Georgia from 1971-1975. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights and to promote economic and social development.”

Jimmy was born on October 1, 1924, as James Earl Carter Jr. in Plains, Georgia of the United States. His education included the United States Naval Academy, Georgia Institute of Technology and the Georgia South Western State University. He is married to Rosalyn Carter and has four kids. Carter has won accolades for his relentless work to advance the cause of peace both during his time as an American President and most importantly after his exit from power in 1981. During his presidency, Carter facilitated the groundbreaking Camp David Accords of 1978 between Israel and Egypt and prioritized respect for human rights in international politics during the height of the Cold War.

Outside the corridors of power, Carter’s impact has been phenomenal. He established the Carter Presidential Centre in 1982 to promote democracy, mediate conflicts and monitor elections around the world. His centre has played a major role in the control and eradication of diseases including guinea worm, river blindness, malaria as well as the reduction of stigma for mental health patients and boosting crop production in Africa. Carter Centre has monitored elections in over 40 countries around the world advocating for free and fair electoral practices. A devout Christian, Carter and his wife continue to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, a Georgia-based philanthropy that helps low income working people around the world to build and buy their homes and access clean water. In 2007, Carter joined The Elders, a group of independent global leaders convened by the late Nelson Mandela who works together on peace and human right issues. He has written over 30 books ranging from political memos to poetry while continuing to actively comment on ongoing American and global affairs, such as the Israeli Palestinian conflict.     

Jimmy Carter’s life and times inspire several lessons that I have identified including:

1.         Use of mediation and negotiation to promote peace in conflict environments. Jimmy Carter through the Carter Centre and his other endeavours have always sought to use mediation and negotiation as tools to bring about enduring peace around the world. This principle helped him broker the famous Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt as the then President of the United States of America and has been a critical strategy for his centre. This realisation has been the principal approach of Building Blocks for Peace Foundation that guides its use of non-violent approaches in interventions in local communities in Nigeria.

2.         Getting involved in peace work starting right from where you are. Carter fought for his community in Georgia as a young man, rising through the ranks to become its governor before becoming an American president. Despite his prominence and stature, Jimmy and his wife, Rosalyn still volunteer at Habitat for Humanity building decent homes for strangers in their neighbourhood in Georgia. Start right where you are. Get engaged in something worthwhile for your local community. You do not need a position before you impact humanity. Carter continues to touch lives outside of politics.

3.         Have the utmost regard for people’s human rights. This is the cardinal principle of the Carter Centre that has led them to some of the most difficult places in the world simply to fight for the rights of people to fulfil their potentials. Injustice anywhere is a threat to people everywhere. Do your best to stand up for the rights of the vulnerable and the oppressed anywhere you find yourself. To live an adventurous life, you just have to define it just like Carter did. There are several other lessons to learn from Jimmy Carter. I hope these few inspire you to act now and leave a remarkable impact in the hearts of men.

Written By:

Blessing Adebayo.
Member, Research Unit
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation

Kofi Annan was born on the 8th of April 1938, to a Ghanaian family and studied in Geneva. He joined the UN in 1962, working for the World Health Organization’s Geneva office and spent his entire life in the United Nations system rising through the ranks to become the UN Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006. As the first Secretary-General to be elected from the UN staff, he was a fervent advocate for peace, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law. Although his legacy includes some controversies around his perceived inability to properly handle the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and the Srebrenica Massacre of 1995, Kofi pushed for reforms to rebuild the UN making it more effective and brought the UN to the 21st century, while working extensively on poverty eradication/alleviation in countries around the world constantly seeking greater stability and peacekeeping efforts.

Kofi Annan was committed to containing the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus in Africa when the rest of the world stood still. As the virus raged across the continent, Kofi Annan met with influential African leaders and the Organisation of African Union (OAU), now known as African Union (AU) to strategise on curbing the virus and other highly infectious diseases, especially among young adults. His strong leadership helped Africa to contain it by promoting its test and treatment and pushing for enhanced healthcare systems on the continent. He was committed to the fight against the virus to protect and preserve the future of Africa.

Kofi Annan made his work on peace a personal goal and reemphasized the UN’s focus on advocacy on conflict prevention and peacebuilding. He raised support for children in Afghanistan and other underdeveloped countries by amplifying their voices and striving for a more peaceful world. Prevention of conflict is mainly a national responsibility but Kofi Annan made it a responsibility of the UN too when the national body failed to protect or abuse its people by reawakening the UN peacekeeping department and introduced the Responsibility to Protect doctrine (R2P). He is a man of integrity as he injected openness and transparency into the UN system thereby making UN officials more aware of the impact of their actions and inactions on vulnerable populations. He also contributed to and supported the civilian rule in Nigeria, making democracy in Nigeria possible today.

Kofi Annan remains a great mentor to me and other youth around the world. He believed in the strong difference youths can make in peacebuilding and politics by supporting free and fair elections, empowering young leaders to counter violent extremism and supporting a strive for a more peaceful world. According to one of his quotes, “Peace is not a perfect achievement” therefore it has to be consciously worked at, as it often comes after a period of war, but also gives hope; hope for a better life, a better society, a healthy life and a land that can flourish again. Kofi Annan died at the age of 80 on August 18, 2018, a fulfilled age, having lived a life full of great and positive impacts. May he continue to rest in peace and his legacies grow stronger, better and impacting. On this occasion of the 2nd anniversary of his death, I am glad to reflect on what his legacy means to young people.

Kofi Annan is such a powerful mentor for youth peacebuilders especially on the continent of Africa. Here is why:

1.  Strive to change the ineffective status quo. Kofi realized that the United Nations was unable to intervene in major crises such as the Rwandan Genocide of 1995 and the Srebrenica Massacre of 1999 because of the principle of sovereignty that says governments have full control of what happens in their country without any interference from outsiders. Kofi felt this was deadly and governments could use it to harm their citizens so he created the concept of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in 2001 to ensure that the international community steps in to protect citizens from their oppressive governments. In the same vein, youth-led organisations such as Building Blocks for Peace Foundation (BBFORPEACE) are demanding a change in their perception by governments and other stakeholders from perpetrators of violence to shapers of peace.

2. Fight for Africa’s development. Kofi made it clear that Africans had the primary responsibility to develop the continent. He emphasised the importance of education to its teeming young population and worked closely with African leaders through their member-states and the Organisation of African Unity. Likewise, BBFORPEACE is collaborating with dozens of organisations across Africa to advocate for peace and security on the African continent.

3. Respond to emerging challenges quickly. HIV/AIDS was a major security threat at the beginning of the millennium in 2000. Africa, in particular, was in danger of being overwhelmed due to inadequate health support systems and health personnel as well as widespread illiteracy. Kofi swung into action leading massive sensitization adopting UNSCR 1308 identifying AIDS as a global security threat in 2000 and convening the General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in 2001.

As young peacebuilders, we cannot wait to start tackling societal challenges. It starts right now- from you and me!

Written by:

Oluwabukunmi Matesun,
Member, Welfare Unit,
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation