UNAOC Young Peacebuilders in West Africa (Fully-Funded)

Deadline: August 31, 2016

Applications are invited from young leaders for the Young Peacebuilders Programme. The aim of this program is to support the growth of networks of young peacebuilders who are equipped with the tools to address stereotypes, prejudice and polarization in order to build more inclusive and peaceful societies in their communities and globally.

The Young Peacebuilders Programme will engage young women and young men from West Africa in an intercultural dialogue and peacebuilding experience.

20 selected participants will learn and collaborate online and in-person during 12 weeks – from October to December 2016. Participants will interact online through a series of facilitated modules and in-person during a one-week workshop in Abuja, Nigeria (November 20-26).

Eligibility

This is a call to youth aged 18-25 from West Africa wanting to build inclusive societies through understanding and respect among cultural and religious communities

• Are you between 18 and 25 years old? *
• Are you a citizen of a West African country and do you currently live in this region? **
• Are you interested in taking part in an intercultural learning experience with other young people from West Africa and develop joint actions to promote peace?
• Are you part of a youth-led organization, network or initiative?
• Do you want to increase your ability to contribute to peace and social inclusion in your community, country and region?
• Are you in the beginning stages of your involvement in this type of work and want to learn more?

Note

* Applicants selected for this programme must be aged 18-25 at the time of applying and for its total duration (October-December 2016). To be considered eligible, applicants must be born on or between January 1, 1991 and August 15, 1998.

** Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

Programme Support

The organizers of Young Peacebuilders programme do not require payment of any participation fee. All selected youth participants will be provided with

• Round-trip travel (international or domestic flight, economy class) to Abuja, Nigeria;
• Accommodation in Abuja from November 20-26, in shared accommodation (double-rooms), with a participant from the same gender;
• Meals and coffee breaks during the official duration of the workshops in Abuja (November 20-26);
• Shuttles or reimbursement of transportation to/from the airport and hotel in Abuja.

Benefits

During the programme, participants will:

• Learn about other cultures, faiths and worldviews within and beyond the group to foster intercultural cohesion and collaboration;
• Learn about stereotypes and how to critically analyze them to reduce their prevalence;
• Understand different perspectives in identity-based conflict and gain tools to develop solutions at local, national and regional level and transform conflicts peacefully;
• Develop competences to use different forms of media or expressive arts as a way to create alternative narratives, reduce polarization and promote social inclusion.

Programme components

• Part 1: online phase (6 weeks). 
• Part 2: one-week face-to-face workshop.
• Part 3: online follow-up phase (4 weeks). 

How to Apply

Complete the online application here.

For more information, visit UNAOC Young Peacebuilders Programme.