By DOH JAMES SONKEY
Youths in Cameroon have been reminded that they have an important role to play in the promotion of peace and development in the country. They were reminded of their role by experts during a conference organized in Yaounde last July 20, 2019 by the NGO, Arc of Peace International that seeks to promote peace, prevent conflict and protect the environment.
As main speaker at the event, political scientist and researcher, Dr Suh I Norbert Fru told participants that education is essential in making youths become actors of peace and development.
He proposed the personal socio-political initiative for peace and development as the way forward while insisting that youths initiative for peace has to begin from the personal level.
On his part, Global Peace Ambassador at Global Peace Chain, Mokwe Elomo Jemea epse Medi described youth entrepreneurship as key ways of promoting peace and development amongst young people, adding that a business youth who is able to meet up with his or her immediate needs is less likely to respond favourable to calls for violence.
The founder of the Arc of Peace, Elvis Teke, PhD student in Peace and Conflict resolution and Journalist at CRTV said peace is a prerequisite for development and urged youths who share a common vision for peace and development to work together in collaboration with state and non state actors in order to promote peace and development in their communities.
Defining peace as “a state of well-being within one’s self, with his community and his environment,” he also prescribed “intercultural exchange as a way out because when youths learn other cultures and travel to other communities, the propensity for tolerance, acceptance and reconciliation is higher”, Teke noted.