By: Forgotten Diaries, Anush Hayrapetyan, Armenia
Youth have an untapped potential, but they are very often ignored, not taken seriously just because they are young and have no experience. Believe in the potential and enthusiasm the young people have, the two powerful components which should never been overlooked. Invest in youth empowering them with the skills and knowledge they need to bring a positive change to their communities, countries, regions and the world at large. This is what we have been doing within the Forgotten Diaries project of Youth Action for Change. We believe that young people, if empowered, hold the key to effective community development and building a culture and attitude of lasting peace and non-violence within communities that have been torn apart by war and violence. We have demonstrated this through supporting young people to do just this and seeing very real results. As an example one of our participants from the Niger Delta who brought together youth from conflicting tribes over regular games of football to teach them conflict resolution and build a culture of peace from the grass-roots.
Empower the youth to take conflict resolution into their own hands and make a real difference.
Written By: Anush Hayrapetyan, Armenia, for a project of Youth Action for Change, Forgotten Diaries that has gained recognition from United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and is working towards resolution of conflicts in sensitive areas across the globe. If you are interested in participating in the activities of Forgotten Diaries, join the facebook group here.