Peacebuilding Workshops Encourage Young Leaders in Tanzania

Naomi MacMurdie

September 6, 2022

Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Tanzania has conducted a series of peacebuilding workshops in local districts aiming to support youth and religious and cultural leaders to become facilitators for peace in their region.

*Global Peace Foundation Tanzania display regional peacebuilding activities at an information booth*

Some 200 people participated in the Youth in Action for Peace project in the Tandahimba District in June 2022. The sessions focused on building religious tolerance between Muslim and Christian populations through film and interactive art that provided a platform for youth to discuss religious tension, misunderstandings, and how to bridge the divide in their community.

“Through this workshop, we are sharing experiences, skills, and knowledge on how to solve conflicts,” said Francis T. Mkuti, the District Administrative Secretary for Tandahimba, “As leaders, let’s use the position we have in our community to spread the peace message and avoid any kind of violence.”

*Peace training workshops in Mtwara, Tanzania*

In the month of July, several peace training workshops were implemented by the Vijana Na Amani 255 project in the Mtwara District. Vijana Na Amani 255 is a collaborative project with the Office of the Prime Minister; Work, Youth, Employment and those with Disabilities; Scout Association Tanzania; Institutions of Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation; Youth of United Nations Association (YUNA); Global Religions for Children Foundation (GRCF); and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that works to provide peace education on the borders of Tanzania and Mozambique in the regions of Mtwara, Lindi, and Ruvuma.

The peacebuilding workshops conducted by GPF Tanzania ensure the inclusion of faith leaders and traditional leaders as extremely influential members of society that have the potential to inspire peace in otherwise tumultuous circumstances. Other groups of influence were invited to participate in the series of training programs, including Youth in Media and scout leaders.

GPF Tanzania will host ongoing peacebuilding workshops and plans to visit with local scout leaders to meet the demands of students to establish peace clubs on campus.