Youth for Peace and Re-integration Programme (YPR)
This program builds on the work initiated in the Sahakarya Shantiko (A Joint Initiative for Peace); a network initiated by Nagarik Aawaz comprising of organizations committed and working at the grassroots level for peace building and conflict transformation in Nepal since 2003. The opportunity to continue and expand peace-building work in Nepal has increased with the success of people’s movement II in April 2006. Members Sahakarya Shantiko have identified the possibility to work through the Youth for Peace and Reintegration (YPR) program to support the reintegration of conflict induced internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the conflict affected communities. On this backdrop NA initiated YPR with the financial support of The Ford Foundation ,Delhi in the partnership of four women led organizations in four districts namely; Tharu Women Upliftment Centre, Bardiya, Nepal Women Community Service Centre,Dang, Women Association for Marginalized Women, Surkhet and Fatima Foundation Nepal Banke from 2008 to 2010.
The Program was specially focused in the psycho- social approach to support them who were adversely affected by conflict to overcome their trauma. The program supported the healing and re-integration process for individuals and groups through community outreach.
Objectives
To increase communities capacity of resilience to conflict.
To influence favorable policies and support system for the conflict affected communities.
To improve access and use of psychological support and referral system.
Outcomes so far
Local community committed towards sustainable peace.
Strengthen capacity of local organization to do peace initiative work.
Able to establish youth as a community peace worker.
Women role is recognized in peace process and established as a peace ambassador.
Increased harmony among different communities (Madeshi, Hindu, Muslim, Terai and Hilly)
Information regarding state policy of conflict affected people transformed to the community which supported to make them empowered.
Disseminated the issues of the conflict affected communities by inviting the representative of Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, Women Development Committee, Local Peace Committee other concerned stakeholders and like minded organizations to incorporate their issues in new policies and plan.
Documented the work Nagarik Aawaz and the work of peace ambassadors who were the victims of conflict by producing the documentary entitled PATH OF PEACE (Shanti ko Bato)
of this site.