Pulse.ng : 2024 International Day of Peace: HVCF harps on peaceful coexistence

By Sani Idris

In commemoration of the 2024 International Day of Peace, the Hope for the Village Child Foundation (HVCF), in collaboration with the Karuna Center for Peace Building and Neem Foundation, has celebrated the day at Kasuwan Magani, while harping on the importance of peaceful coexistence.

The event, marked the culmination of the Protecting Our Community Initiative (POCI) project, which aimed to showcase its achievements in fostering peaceful coexistence in various communities.

The communities were Kujama, Kufana, Kajuru, Sabon Tasha, Kasuwan Magani, Maraban Rido, among others.

The event drew a diverse crowd, including members of the Early Warning Early Response (EWER) committees, representatives from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, religious leaders, district heads, women's groups, and staff from Hope for Village Child Foundation and Neem Foundation.

Hajiya Khadija Hawaja Gambo, Permanent Commissioner, Kaduna Peace Commission

Speaking at the event, Hajiya Khadija Hawaja Gambo, a Permanent Commissioner at the Kaduna State Peace Commission, emphasised the critical role of women in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

She highlighted the significant progress in Kasuwan Magani, comparing the present state of the community to its situation prior to the POCI project.

Also, the Director of HVCF, Sr. Rita Schwarzenberger, stated the importance of peaceful coexistence to societal progress and meaningful development.

Barr. Grace Auta, Technical Adviser of HVCF

Schwarzenberger's speech, delivered by Barr. Grace Auta, the Technical Adviser of the HVCF, said Kasuwan Magani community has made significant strides since the POCI project began.

Schwarzenberger said the International Day of Peace was originally established by the UN in 1981.

However, in 1999, 25 years ago, UNESCO set up the event of Cultivating a Culture of Peace.

Speaking on what it means to cultivate a culture of peace, she said it starts in individuals' hearts.

"If we think in our hearts that someone is stupid or evil or frightening, even if we try to hide it, it will come out. It will show in our words, our actions, our relationships. If on the other hand, we see others as friend, as brother or sister, as a persons with dignity, that will also show,"she said.

Speaking further, Schwarzenberger emphasised that peace requires that everyone participates in a dynamic way, using dialogue and working for mutual understanding, willing to open oneself to the other, and open to changing one’s mind from deeply held views.

She appealed to everyone to look deeply into his/her hearts, especially examining what culture we are passing on to our children.

Doing so, she said it would help the children create a desirable future.

"It is up to us to decide what we want out children to value in their lives and the kind of future they will have,"Schwarzenberger said.

Mr. Peter Jonathan, EWER Committee Member, Kajuru

Also, an EWER committee member, Mr. Peter Jonathan, suggested the need for a follow-up project to sustain the accomplishments of POCI.

Participants at the event, shared inspiring stories of how the POCI project has promoted peaceful coexistence in communities like Kasuwan Magani.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that POCI, demonstrates the power of community-driven projects in promoting peace and harmony in Nigeria.

NAN also reports that POCI is an initiative of Karuna Center, Neem Foundation, and three community-based organizations: Elohim Development Foundation, Hope for the Village Child, and Voluntary Aid Initiative.

The project is currently being implemented across six Local Government Areas in Kaduna, Zamfara and Benue states.

POCI works within 18 core communities to establish locally-rooted peacebuilding systems.

The goal is to support communities’ capacity to prevent violence and address the root causes of conflict, now and in the future. A key focus of the project is on strengthening relationships between farmer and herder communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis—and, in this final year, fortifying the capacity of community-based partners.