Support Youth to build Peace in Nigeria

In continuation of efforts to deepen conversations and to mobilize and engage stakeholders for Peace, New Era Educational and Charitable Support Foundation, in partnership from Peace Initiative Network and Peace Direct, hosted 500 students from 5 schools in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, including religious, community leaders and educators, on Thursday, October 25, 2018, to an elaborate event to Explore Cultures for Peace in Nigeria. The ceremony attracted 7 Distinguished Speakers, 9 Cultural Dances, meals, recitation of poems and songs, and Peace Education Club activities by the students.

The Cultures for Peace Event was hosted at the premises of Creative Minds International Academy, Jos

On Friday, November 23, 2018, New Era Educational and Charitable Support Foundation, in partnership with the West Africa Regional Office of United Religions Initiative (URI West Africa), hosted the 8^th International Conference on Youth and Interfaith Dialogue. The Conference was held at the GoodLife Guest Inn, No.5 Rest House Road, Opposite Plateau Hotel, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.105 Participants attended the Conference.

The Theme of 8th Conference on Youth and Interfaith Dialogue was "The Role of Religions to Promote Peace, Security and Transcend Violent Extremism”. The conference made a critical appraisal of the role of religion in security issues and suggested practical ways religions can help in resolving security problems as well create and promote an inclusive, compassionate community dialogue process that honours different personal experiences, perspectives, and narratives, while allowing for better expressing and listening to each other as we work together toward understanding and harmony. 

Conference participants included Community leaders and activists, Chief Executives of International, National and Local NGO, CBOs and FBOs, Religious/Spiritual leaders, Peace activists, Government representatives, Students, Cultural/Ethnic and Spiritual Community representatives, Human Service providers, Academics, Social Science researchers, etc.

The Keynote address was delivered by Prince Charles Dickson, PhD of the Nexus Fund. Other Conference Speakers included: Barrister Clement Iornongu, ESQ, Executive Director International Centre for Peace, Charities and Human Development (INTERCEP), His Grace Salika Dasa, Temple President, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON),Nigeria, Alh. Salis Mohammad Abdulsalam,Executive Director, Face of Peace Foundation, Mr. Christoph Kowalewski,Transparency International,Guatemala, Mrs. Simi Goshwe Angelina, Executive Director, Simji Girl-Child Empowerment Initiative, among others.

Specifically, the 8th International Interfaith Youth Conference:

• Examined dimensions and dynamics of "The OTHER" on individual and group levels, and considered how enemy identity is formed, perpetuated, and manipulated.

• Identified and compiled fundamental questions, dilemmas, and implications for further deep inquiry and examination in an expanding public dialogue, to challenge embedded negative belief systems that promote adversarial perceptions of the "The Other."

Ten (10) brand new Butterfly Sewing Machines were also presented to religiously-diverse men and women, as part of our ongoing Livelihood Skills Support Program, funded by Peace Initiative Network (PIN) and Peace Director.