Objective One: To change social cultural attitudes by promoting Active Non Violence Principles and Practice to reduce levels of social political violence in Kenya.
Growing personal, social and political violence in Kenya is as a result of lack of change of attitude needed to embrace structural reforms, life skills, unaddressed historical injustices and lack of civic education. The media is awash with news about social, economic, environment and political violence on one hand and terrorism. This has led to increased fear, heightened ethnicity, human rights violation, high unemployed and generally erosion of resent socio-economic and political gains. Given the need to link conflict prevention and peace building with development in conflict affected areas and devolved units of governance, CYU is proposing the concept of ANV as an alternative means to pursue peace and justice. CYU has been implementing creative Active Non Violence principles to attain a more peaceful and just society in Kenya over the years. This concept is aimed at supporting change in conflict affected and fragile communities by promoting a culture of peace through nonviolent action and providing a wide space for action-for peace activists. It also seeks to create support systems so that they can actively engage with the community effectively.
Key Activities Include
- Training of Trainers
- 5 day ANV Basic Trainings
- Deepening workshops for ANV practitioners
- Cross-learning Conferences
- Mentorship and peace circles for deep dialogue
Expected Results
Communities embrace a culture of peace and Non Violence.
Objective Two: To promote inter religious cohesion for social development in Kenya.
Kenya is diverse in religion with Protestant comprising 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10% and others at approximately 2%. However, the numbers of religious leaders who use Interfaith Dialogues in conflict transformation are few. CYU seeks to engage in sustainable promotions of peace through interreligious dialogue by addressing capacity building of religious leaders. Currently, increased radicalization of youth on sectarian grounds and xenophobia along religious lines obtain. CYU advocates for the use IRD to ensure reduction of both youth radicalization and xenophobic reaction to various communities highly attributed to their religion and perceived acts of terrorism. Specifically, CYU:
- Strengthens county interfaith forums
- Conducts community dialogue meetings
- Host s national IRDÂ conferences
- Host s annual peace and cultural week
- Conducts transformational leadership trainings for religious leaders
- Organizes exposure visits for religious leaders
- Conducts outreach through radio talk shows
Expected Results
Communities that uphold dialogue as means to religious cohesion.