In our appeal, award-winning Scottish and Sierra Leonean author Aminatta Forna OBE, explained how our work in Nigeria helps turn young people away from violence and become leaders for peace. Youth peace groups provide young people with the skills and confidence to reconnect with their communities and lead the way in building peace. Mohammed is a member of one of these peace groups:
"Now that the other youth in the peace group support me and believe in me, for the first time, I feel like I have a bright future. I will never carry any weapon to destroy my own people and property again – that’s a promise. I want my life to be an example to others about how you can change."
The northeast of Nigeria is an area ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency. Young people are at the heart of the conflict – either as victims, defenders or perpetrators of violence. Your donation will mean we can help more people living with conflict, like Mohammed and Badawiya, who was the focus of our appeal.
Badawiya was orphaned and then targeted for recruitment by Boko Haram. Her life was transformed when she joined a youth peace group. She is no longer vulnerable and alone, she has a new support network and is now building a future for herself away from violence.
Pioneers of peace often come from communities experiencing violence. Thanks to your support, we are able to help these and similar community peace groups in other countries, including in the Central African Republic, Kenya and The Philippines. In 2018, we worked with 112 local peace structures around the world and helped over 5,400 young people become advocates for peace.
You can listen again to the appeal via the BBC website. You can also still donate to our vital work of preventing violence and building peace, to help people like Mohammed and Badawiya live safe and fulfilling lives.
Together, we can help ensure those affected by conflict are able to stand up to the violence they see around them. Thank you for your continued support.
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