The North West Region of Cameroon has been experiencing prolonged socio-political unrest since 2016, affecting communities and youth development. Youths, comprising a majority of the population, face limited access to education, employment, and healthcare, increased vulnerability to radicalization, and decreased opportunities for social mobility and civic engagement. Their meaningful participation in conflict transformation is crucial for sustainable peace.
It is in this light that the Justice and Peace Service (JPS) organized a Peace Forum on October 24, 2024, to evaluate the current state of youths’ participation in conflict transformation, identify challenges and opportunities for meaningful engagement, explore strategies to enhance youth empowerment and leadership in conflict resolution, and foster collaboration among stakeholders to promote inclusive peace building.
The forum was participatory, with 25 participants from various denominations, Muslim youths, Catholic Women Association, Women Faith Based Mediators, primary teachers, persons living with disabilities, justice and peace workers, NGOs, quarter heads, and village development associations.
A keynote speech presented, discussed the ongoing crisis faced by youths, their role in perpetuating violence, and the challenges they face. It highlighted the importance of youth and stakeholders in transforming conflicts and building lasting peace.
Some highlights from this discussion were:
“Most capacity building programs for youths on peace building and conflict management is done with
too much copy and paste concepts from the western world which cannot be easily applied in managing grassroots conflicts.”
“Our educational system does not prepare us to handle conflicts. – Young people have lost interest in politics and leadership therefore the reason for limited participation in conflicts transformation.”
“Economic hardships makes some young people lose interest in conflict management and are only
concerned in collecting workshop stipends rather than localizing the knowledge gained.“
“Most young people are detached from their roots and so lack skills and knowledge on grassroots
conflict management styles.“
“ Young people should be given the opportunity in decision making from the family level.”
“Social media has greatly contributed to turn youths towards a culture of violence rather than a culture of peace.”
“There can be no participation without representation of especially persons with disabilities in the
peace processes. After this discussion, participants had a health/coffee break which was followed by a break out session.”
At the end of the event, all stakeholders present took a commitment to promote the meaningful participation of youths in conflict transformation at their different levels.
