“25 names of
youths you recognize in the community who are at risk to criminal affiliate and
been associated with militia and freelance activities”. The groups we are
asking for this information are Mogadishu’s peace committees, located
throughout the 16 districts within the city.
A strong emerging prominent groups consisting of 240 members who are divided
into 15 within each district and have their own fair election on choosing a
chairperson and deputy, the peace communities are the heart and soul of
Mogadishu. They are the members chosen from every district by their communities
to represent them with having full access to their district commissioners twice
a week and are the voice of their respected borough.
As Somalia
emerges from war and destruction, collapse of trust for one another has
affected the country with the outcome being isolation and fear amongst
ourselves. The district peace communities have provided a breath of fresh air
with their eager to sacrifice time, energy and resources. They only hope for
restoring confidence and faith amongst communities. Their contribution to
society had been noted when the governor of Banadir had accepted a request from
them to be provided identification cards in order to conduct their job securely.
Keep in mind; this time last year, they had been unknown to each other and
their neighbourhoods. Community development has recently been made more
accessible because of peace committees which prove how influential they gotten
within the metropolis.
The peace
committees are made up of 3 women, 3 elders, 3 youths, 2 IDPs, 2 religious
elders and 2 from the business community in each district totaling to 15.
This was
done to have a voice from each background level within a district represented
and have a louder say in what activities to be conducted and to provide assistance
to security and organizations on conducting projects. When we had tasked them
to provide with us 25 names of youths, it was because of a major project named
“Youth 4 Change”, being implemented by Somali Youth Development Network,
targeting those at risk and providing with them an alternative route to life.
Challenging mission of course, but what the peace committees have done was to
provide us access to these youths, after-all, they do reside in their
communities and have the knowhow on these individuals.
Just
recently, we had concluded a Trauma Healing Forum throughout Mogadishu
specifically for the women of the city and the contribution from PCs (Peace
Committees) had been beyond useful. We were provided an insight and access to
local women within the community who had shared with us their traumatic
experience. It would have been a costly task on facilitating our own research
and would have taken much time. Not only have the PC’s contributed on smoothing
the progress of the task, but must also take credit on raising the trust
between their neighborhoods, a major boost to the reconciliation program the
government is currently implementing.
Other successes
with peace committees include in mobilizing communities to participate in
planning and implementation of programs such as Mine Risk Education Soyden had
been facilitating by training over 1,800 school teachers and members across the
city. PC’s also contribute a vast amount of energy in solving disputes amongst neighbors
by raising awareness of peace building and importance of unity.
We must also
take note, this is a group who go without any salary and doing whatever it
takes to bring Mogadishu forward with peace and harmony amongst all. A breath
of fresh beacon to the on-going progress Mogadishu has been currently
witnessing.
The job just
doesn’t stop there. With security being our most vital task if we want to live
in peace, District Commissioners have noted to the governor of the region how
PC’s are now promoting a united community by organizing peace rallies and
aiding the security personnel of suspicious activities. This has halted numerous
planned attacks that have saved so many lives.
One must
only witness and speak with PC’s in order to see the will and ambition they
have for Somalia and it’s a beautiful sight to be amongst those working with them.
I’m sure the work they conduct has been noted by the higher government.
A group of
individuals who carry no guns but hope for the community they reside in, a rare
sight to see in Somalia.
Mohamed Hassan (Dj)
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