There is a growing recognition that as agents of change, young people are critical actors in conflict prevention and sustaining peace. But peace building processes ought to incorporate different approaches of expression and dealing with the past wounds, and if youth are to be meaningfully engaged, then different forms of arts have proven effective. Driven by this vision, in order to provide the opportunity to youth to express their ideas and share their opinions to contribute in the peace building process, on 31st July 2018, NAR hosted a Youth Arts Competition aimed to encourage youth to express their ideas and their perspectives on peace building through their talents.
While opening the competition, the Acting Executive Director at Never Again Rwanda, Eric Mahoro noted that the importance of the competition was to offer the youth a golden opportunity to express their voice through their talents in peace building, by sharing a message which will positively impact their communities; while the Acting Head of Programs Florence Batoni, urged the youth to use the space to articulate their experiences and creativity in building peace within their communities. One musician Tom Close who was part of the judges at the competitions for the singing performances urged the young artists not to focus on winning but to keep using their talents to shape positive attitudes amongst fellow youth.
The event provided an opportunity for youth to creatively express their contributions to the peacebuilding process as well as to find their voices for peace through their talents. Josiane Murekatete, a member of spaces for peace group noted: “Youth are able to sensitize society members to tolerate, respect human rights, and create a sense of peace by using our talents; we are the powerful pillars of peace.” Gatete Yvan from Lycee de Kigali noted: “Let unity conquer segregation. Let peace overcome wars. Let’s build peace like ants build their home, a peace able to cover future generations. Let’s remember daily that ‘what unites us is greater than what separates us”. He added that youth must fight against divisions, standing one with love as their weapon, with unity as their shield, with freedom as their hope and as peace as their motive.
Building peace should be primarily about connecting with people and promoting relationships between groups. Young people’s inclusion in the peace and security agenda and in society more broadly is key to building and sustaining peace. This reaffirms the important role youth can play in deterring and resolving conflicts and are key constituents in ensuring the success of both peacekeeping and peace-building effort.