Peace Project in Daadab Refugee Camp

Introduction

Soroptimist International approached WAGGGS regarding cooperation between the two organizations. Both organizations wanted to focus on peace in Africa and working with children affected by conflict or violence. In order to sustain the project it was decided that a cascade system would be operated in order to train as many leaders a possible as Peace ambassadors. Following the initial workshop the participants will train other children affected by conflict or violence in their own surrounding and more children will be peace ambassadors.

We are undertaking the mentioned project in Daadab as a continuation of a training symposium, in Kigali Rwanda in April 2004 which was the first of its kind in Africa. The project is being implemented in thirteen other countries Kenya included. This project also fulfils some of the Millennium Development Goals set to be fulfilled by 2015 and they include promoting gender equality and empowering women which goes along with the WAGGGS mission statement.

In order for the project to start 54 peace ambassadors will be drawn from the three camps:-Ifo, Hagadera and Dagahaley to ensure sustainability in each camp. This project will encourage cultural interaction among refugee children through Girl Guide Movement which is a youth movement organized for girls with adult leader’s partnership. Its build character molding to the girls into responsible citizens and mothers of the nation. Girl Guide movement is aimed at developing self-esteem, personality concepts and promoting peace education among different ethnicities who share common problems.

 The association uses the badge system as an incentive to its members as they work through the program. Guiding offers an opportunity for development and personal progress by means of its educations method closely linked to the ideal ‘creating peace worldwide” This is achieved through the guides promise and law.

OUR MAIN GOAL

To establish peace ambassadorial networks at the Dadaab camp through formation of “AMANI” Clubs and recruiting girls into the Guides movement who, thus empowering them top be better citizens of the world.

Other Goals Include:  

• To establish a peace Ambassadorial network at the camp
• Enlighten the girls on self esteem and self confidence, personal values through the Girl guides education.
• Develop skills and knowledge to run Peace education on their surrounding and taking care of their environment.
• Reduce conflict among the communities in the camp and encourage a culture of peace by empowering the girls to speak out.
•  

Objectives: By The End Of The Project:  

Objective1: To identify and train 54 peace ambassadors who will be the future guides training other as well.

Objective 2: To Conduct a 6 day training working sharp for the 54 participants

Objective 3: To solicit for resource Mobilization

Objective 4: To Create a network of Peace ambassadors in Kenya “AMANI “clubs

Objective 5: To Monitor and evaluate the project and ensure continuation of the movement.

Major delay

Due to insecurity in Somali in the years following where there was a lot of influx of the Somali refugees into Kenya – our visit was delayed. It was not until 6-7 June, 2007 that we embarked on the feasibility study.

Recommendations after OUR FACT FINDING MISSION 6-7 June, 2007

We recommend from our deliberations with the NCCK’s ground staff that;

1. The Chief Commissioner of Kenya Girl Guides Association (KGGA) and NCCK’s management need to formulate an agreement to enable the operations to start.
2. We have a pilot project in 1 school per camp and one out of school Girls group to determine how the project can be run in the future. The schools that have been selected are cosmopolitans which are
   1.  Friends Primary School in Ifo
   2. Elley Primary school in Dagahaley
   3.  Central primary school in Hagadera
   4. Dadaab Primary school which is a government school
   5. Borehole 5 primary school which is a government school
   6. One organized group per camp for out of school girls
3. We recommend and have identified a Girl Guide Focal point person who is a staff of NCCK namely Carol Mwai, Peace Field Officer.
4. We recommend 30 participants for the training who will all have a central venue at the NCCK’S Dadaab main office. The participants will also be drawn from NCCK’S incentive (Refugee) workers plus and Agencies’ staff.
5. We recommend 1 ground Project officer who is a guide. To be confirmed by the KGGA management, whether it will be through the NCCK or through KGGA direct.
6. We recommend that Girl Guides can explore using the Teacher Advisory council (TAC) that builds the capacity of teachers, the program usually runs on Saturdays.
7. We recommend that the PTA’s and the Camp Chairman and Lady be co-opted as the Local Association in order to get the community’s support for the project directly.
8. We recommend that the association look into way of having a replica of   the Shanzu project (A KGGA project for physically disabled) in Dadaab. There are a number of visually impaired and physically handicapped children who have limited facilities in the camps and a proposal would be to ape what Shaanzu Transitional workshop does.

Training of TOTs

 In 2010, we embarked on our first training of Trainers (TOT). Our outcome was about targeted to 511 girls as per the report I sent. However, in2011 the girls had increased to over 700 and the number is still growing.
The initial funding came from Soroptimist International through WAGGGS most of the other funding was given by other donors through NCCK.

OUTPUT:
over 700 girls have been recruited into girl guiding and are under going the peace ambassadorial training in Dadaab.
We have a permanent girl guide to manage the program at Dadaab.
Our girls have the blue Somali Uniform (here you can show the picture of the current uniform)
We have produced a training manual on peace building with emphasise to girl guiding

IN future:

WE are working on having a phase II of the Daadab Projoect jointly with NCCK for a 5 year period

• We require more girls to be trained on capacity building.
• Provision of sanitary pads to girls in school to help in training – this sanitary kit cost kshs.1000 and is used for 1 year.
• More capacity building and equipping of the girls is required on the ground

Constraints:
The girls suffer rejection especially when they have their monthly periods in that they cannot attend school -thus loosing on education.

Download a flyer to find out how you can support us:

peaceflyer2011