Implemented in the districts of Ntungamo
Uganda is home to over 70% of total population being youth despite the negative view held of them, alongside unaddressed legacies of conflict that have impacted youth directly and indirectly. Key among the issues youth in Uganda continue to face exclusion from processes that directly impact their lives. In addition is the limited knowledge youth possess of key instruments that acknowledge and protect their right to participation in peace processes as well as a gap in Uganda’s policy framework with relation to the role of youth as envisaged by the Youth, Peace and Security resolution 2250.
In an assessment conducted by the initiative, Platforms for youth are what young people in Ntungamo and Isingiro crave for, where voices are heard and respected, their contributions to development of Ntungamo and isingiro districts is valued, where they are supported and assisted to meet their needs and concerns, where they are protected from manipulation and where there is room for reintegration of those that seem to have trauma of community judgement.
With support form Refugee Law Project, Funding from Inter Peace, European Union and Swiss agencyfor Devlopment and Cooperation, young innovators from Uganda cruising through the wide valleys and over the steep mountain of Western Uganda, majoring in 2 distrcts, Ntungamo and Isingiro they set out to change these narratives. Journeying through these hotspot districts of Ntungamo and Isingiro the project reached out to 1000+ ,as estimated number of youth in areas that were out of the map for youth roles in development, leadership and democratic processes.
The dialogue game has been an eye opener to these young men and women to take lead and participate in issues that concerns them, many are ready to employ the lessons learnt from our experiences in their daily activities.
Youths leaders at the district levels are ready to support young people in their endeavors for development.
The initiative showed a big gap in governance ranging from participants not being familiar with their leaders at the district, ignorant of the opportunities, host community and refugees not sharing spaces to work together or suspicious of each yet the two some times work together.
The Journey also presented some of the most valuable pieces of the puzzles when it comes to youth peace and security, the youth sharing their real life experience of the nightmares with no assistance, a chat with the district youth mayor Mr Philip Ankwasa initially raised our attention when he mentioned that
"Ntugamo district is one of the the most neglected area when it come to youth livelihood programs loudly while calling for a savior to uplift the capacity of young people in Ntungamo that they used the word “need for youth emancipation” to describe it"
Youths not being aware of their rights, when it comes to leadership and their participation or roles, this is only an indicator that most of the plans that the government makes are not youth centered, and so they don’t participate especially at grass root levels and so there is need to approach the NAP on YPS with a youth centered measure and interest especially the one at the grassroots level.
Appreacitaion to teh sponsors for this great initiative
Click the link below forsome of the succes story shared by these young men and women The Journey of the Dialogue game
Project: YOUTH INNOVATION LAB.
Event: REGIONAL PEACE WORKSHOP CROSS BORDER DIALOGUE AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR PEACE IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION
Date: 11-13 DECEMBER 2023
Regional Participants: RWANDA, BURUNDI, UGANDA AND DR. CONGO
Venue: KIGALI-RWANDA, M HOTEL KIGALI
Hosted by: NEVER AGAIN RWANDA AND VISION JEUNESSE NOUVELLE
Partners: POLE INSTITUTE, REFUGEE LAW PROJECT, CENAP, AND ACTION POUR LA PAIT ET LA CONCORD (APC)
Funded by: INTERPEACE, EUROPEAN UNION AND SWISS AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION .
Content by: ABWOLA HILLARY MAKWAR
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