Peace One Day
Street Child Africa and its partners celebrated Peace One Day 2010 in the following ways:
UK Thames Ditton, Street Child Africa Office
1 p.m. Lunchtime session
We showed a 9 minute introductory film on "Peace One Day", followed by two short presentations by Ashley Damewood (Programmes Officer) and Savina Geerinckx (Overseas Programmes Director) presenting the work of our partners in two conflict-ridden countries: Uganda and DR Congo.
We also spoke live with various partners in Africa on Skype to hear about their activities on the day.
AFRICA
The emphasis in Africa will be on giving street children a chance to talk about what peace means to them and participating in Peace One Day's global campaign ‘One Day One Goal' to see football matches played worldwide on this day as a symbol of communities working together.
DR Congo, Bukavu
PEDER, our partner based in Bukavu in Eastern DR Congo, held a 60 minute conference followed by "Budding geniuses" quizzes at their different centres to give the children the opportunity to express their views on the subject of peace.
A football match at their transit centre for street children was followed by a group discussion and the children were invited to describe their experiences of violence in their local communities.
Uganda, Jinja
Street Child Activist Uganda (SCAU) organised an event in Jinja, Uganda called ‘Harmony for Peace in Uganda' to reflect on the factors - cattle rustling, drought and food insecurity - that have led to the forcible displacement and marginalisation of Karamojong children in Eastern Uganda.
Hopeful for change, the 50 children living in child headed households supported by SCAU wrote a manifesto outlining what they think needs to be done to resolve the conflict in Karamoja peacefully and paint a banner promoting non-violent behaviour and inner peace. They also performed a skit that raises awareness and played netball and football matches.
The State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, District Probation Officer, Resident District Commissioner, Chief Administrative Officer, Chairman of the Local Council, village elders, and local NGO, Child Restoration Outreach, joined the children in celebrating the day.
Zambia, Ndola
Our partner, The Rainbow Project and The Cicetekelo Youth Project organised an afternoon mini football tournament involving teams of children and staff from both projects. The Cicetekelo over 18 team already plays in the local community league. It gave the children a chance to have fun together after they have finished their schoolwork for the day.
Zimbabwe, Harare
Streets Ahead organised football matches between three teams of children living and working on the streets of Harare before a crowd of about 120 children and members of the local community.
