02/09/2014
Three weeks from now, individuals and organisations from around the world will come together on 21 September to call for peace in our homes, schools and communities. It will be the loudest call for global peace the world has ever known and we can all help amplify this message.
This is the first year of our three year project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region of Africa (GLR), demonstrating how the day can be a window of opportunity for humanitarian and life-saving activities. Working with a range of organisations including UN bodies, NGOs, faith groups, schools and individuals, we have already received word of a number of incredible plans taking place in the region, including:
In partnership with UNICEF and the DRC Ministry of Education, Peace One Day is distributing peace education posters in six languages to over 51,000 schools in the DRC.
Jeuness’Espoir has created a coalition in Bas-Congo to drive Peace Day activity across the province.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is supporting refugees in the GLR in a number of ways including the voluntary repatriation of refugees from Uganda to the DRC, the distribution of fuel-efficient stoves to IDP camps, as well as organising a mini-marathon in Goma.
As part of their ‘Peace in the Great Lakes’ initiative, the Association of the Catholic Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa and the Provinces of the Anglican Church of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda are organising a three-day prayer for peace (Triduum).
Corporate Coalition member Greif will distribute 6,000 water backpacks across the DRC and the GLR to help people safely carry clean water.
This is just a selection of the activities that will take place in the region and beyond on Peace Day. - Jeremy Gilley
