UNOY in the African region

13 youth peace organizations are members of UNOY Peacebuilders in Africa. Many individuals and organisations are also active as affiliates. The communication language of the network is English, although we strive to also use French whenever possible.

Members in Africa

African Youth Relief Organisation (AYRO), Benin
Action des jeunes pour le Développement Communautaire et la Paix (ADECOP), Congo Democratic Republic
Groupement de Promotion Integrale, Congo Democratic Republic
Programme d’Encadrement et de Reinsertion des Jeunes ex Combattants et en Difficultes (Perex-C), Congo Democratic Republic
Young Peace Brigades (YPB), Ghana
Kenya Youth Foundation (KYF), Kenya
Kibera Youth Programme for Peace and Development, Kenya
Movement for Peace and Reconciliation in Liberia, Liberia
African Child Peace Initiative (ACPI), Liberia
Peacelinks, Sierra Leone
Young Leaders Sierra Leone (YLSL), Sierra Leone
Somaliland Youth Development Association, Somalia
Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA), South Africa

Mission

To strengthen the network by linking up organisations and leaders.
To advocate and promote the role of African youth in peacebuilding and peace related issues.
To improve the knowledge, skills and capacities of youth peace organisations within the African region by trainings and sharing expertise.
To facilitate an exchange of experience and practice among youth leaders working in peacebuilding and strengthen their capacity to network and develop joint projects at local, national and regional levels (self-help networks).
To increase young peoples capacity to deal with the inter- and intra- personal, community and organisational, cultural, social and political dimensions of conflict and peace by sharing experiences.

Activities International Secretariat

Facilitation of the network by communicating with African members and affiliates, linking up African organisations and disseminating research and training materials.
Advocacy and campaigning for youth and peacebuilding, also on behalf of the African organisations.
Capacity building of organisations within the network by assisting in the organisation of trainings appropriate for the African context.

Activities of African members and affiliates, a few examples:

peace and non-violence education on schools;
involvement of youth in upcoming elections;
actions against the use of small arms and child soldiers;
promotion of human rights;
creation of dialogue between different ethnic and religious groups;
capacity building trainings;
establishment of youth peace clubs;
peacebuilding and reconciliation through African dance and arts;
attending and organising youth peace conferences;
advocacy for the role of youth and the African Youth Charter.