Our Programs - FOUNDATION FOR PEACE, HOPE & CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

The Zero Illiteracy Project (Zip)

Zero illiteracy project (ZIP), seeks to reduce mass illiteracy in the Society by encouraging the culture of reading. In the last two years, the focus of the Foundation has been to revamp Libraries across Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Institutions in Taraba State through its ZIP project. The foundation has donated books to several Institutions, such as the Federal University Wukari (FUW), Taraba State University Jalingo, Federal University Wukari Staff School and Kwararafa University Wukari. This project helps the youth and adults gain the literacy skills needed to improve their lives.

National Day of Mourning (NDOM2020)

The Foundation for Peace, Hope and Conflict Management (FPHCM) In partnership with Global Rights, organised a TV advocacy program to commensurate the National Day of Mourning and call on the government and relevant stakeholders such as traditional rulers, religious bodies, media and civil society organizations to join efforts towards ensuring peace and security in the State. This is aims at stirring the conscience of political class into developing political will to protect the common wealth through accountable governance. It is also meant to express solidarity with grieving communities across the country in acknowledging and according to dignity to every single Nigerian life that has been lost or disrupted, due to violent crises.

Women Interstate Peacebuidling Initiative (WIPI)

The role of women as peacemakers in the society cannot be overemphasized; more often women are marginalised and excluded from peace negotiation in the society. The Women Interstate Peace Initiative seeks to change the narrative and to project the voice of women in the Peacebuilding process in Benue-Taraba region and beyond. The primary objective of this initiative is to build the capacity of women in ensuring the concept of inter-religious and inter- cultural dialogue, fostering social cohesion and to ascertain the role of women in mitigating conflicts in their communities. The most recent of this training was held in August 2020 at Global Village Suites Abuja. Fifty (50) community women from Benue and Taraba state were train. Fifty (50) women capacities on Peacebuilding and conflict management skills are enhanced. Participant skills to mediate and resolve conflict in their communities was improved, participant role and participation in the Peacebuilding activities in their community was also establish. Participant unanimously agreed on action points and released communiqué to that effect.

One-Day Community Stakeholders Forum

The international day of peace began in 1981 through the resolution 36/37 by the United Nations General assembly, in an effort to reconcile people around the world. This year’s theme is ‘Shaping peace together’. On this day the UN urges all hostilities to stop worldwide. The International day of peace celebrates the power of global solidarity for building a peaceful and sustainable world. This has never been so important at a time of unprecedented challenges, new forces of division have emerged, spreading hatred and intolerance. Hence, Foundation for Peace, Hope and Conflict Management join the United Nations and the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Peace by organizing a one day Dialogue Forum tagged ‘the role of community stakeholders in shaping peace”. The aim is to encourage stakeholders on the different roles they play in shaping peace as well as strengthen their participation in the peace process across the state. The objective of the Dialogue Forum was to give an insight on root cause of conflicts and identify the role of community stakeholders in the peace process. To strengthened the participation of community stakeholders in peace process and to initiate dialogue and reconciliation as an approach to peace. The major impact of the program is that each conflicting part now understands the root cause of conflict and has identified their roles as community stakeholders in the peace process. Facilitate participation of community stakeholders in the peace process and increase dialogue and reconciliation as a proactive measure to peace in the communities.

Establishment of Inter-Religious and Intercultural Committee Fostering Social Cohesion by Building Bridges between Diverse Religious, Ethnic, Political and Regional Communitiesheading

The project “establishment of inter-religious and intercultural committee fostering social cohesion by building bridges between diverse religious, ethnic, political and regional communities” was funded by the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) whose mandate is in conformity with the commitment of FPHCM to support the Federal Government of Nigeria to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 5, 16 and 17 respectively. In Taraba, the continuous violent conflict in the southern part is precipitated by multi- dimensional economic, religious, ethnic, and political factors. The act of resolving this conflict through dialogue rather than violence, is an essential skill in order to reach a lasting peace at the community level, where the impact of the conflict is more devastating with monumental loss of human and material resources. In order to achieve the objectives, the project utilized a combination of interventions by raising awareness through sensitization and advocacy using social and behavior change communication (SBCC), community mobilization and capacity building in the communities that border between Benue and Taraba States particularly; Wukari, Ukum and Takum Local Government Areas. The program applied a multisectoral approach leveraging on the support of Most Rev. Dr. Charles M. Hammawa, the Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, HRH (Arc.) Orkaa Kaave (KSJI), the Ter Ukum and Chairman Ukum Traditional Council, Sankera Benue State, HRM (Dr.) Shekarau Angyu, Masa-Ibi Kuvyon II, the Aku Uka and Chairman Council of Chiefs, Taraba State represented by Hakimi Manu Jida David Danladi Maiyaki, the Uko Bede of Bete, Takum, Dr. Edward L. Mikeri, Local Government Chairmen of Wukari, Ukum and Takum, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim Council of Nigeria (MCN), the Fulani group, Security Agencies (Department of State Security, formal and informal security agencies. During the project period, about 400 persons participated in the activities drawn by the FPHCM in the three different project locations. However, there exists a huge need for a continuous follow-up, sustainability, and up scaling of the current project, and possibly diversification into complementary projects like livelihoods, shelter, WASH, education, protection, environmental and resilience projects within the locality, across other regions and the neighboring state.

Workshop on utilizing modern agricultural technologies to create jobs, alleviate poverty and boost sustainable development in Nigeria

Agricultural technologies are result/findings obtained from agricultural research institutes which when properly utilized during production, harvesting, storage, processing and marketing, brings about improving the living standard of rural populace, economic growth of our nation and sustainable development. It is a one-day workshop for youths and farmers in Wukari Community who were thought the modern methods of land preparation, planting, fertilizer application, weeding and crop harvesting, rearing and feeding of animals as well as processing, storage and marketing of far produce. It also involves using improved and high yielding varieties of seeds and agro chemicals, etc.

Workshop on Gender-Based Violence and Sensitization

Gender-based violence (GBV) affects the entire life cycle of women/girls. At any point in their lives women/girls can be subjected to forms of violence such as the threat of sexual assault, rape or incest. While boys are also at risk, the possibility that the girls are raped or sexually assaulted is much higher than it is for the male gender. Therefore, those inflicting violence on women/girls are as diverse as the opportunities to abuse; the perpetrators can be a family member, those in positions of trust or power, or even strangers. Often women/girls are confronted with interdependent and cumulative patterns of violence, when physical, economic and emotional forms of violence reinforce each other. The fear of violence, including harassment, is not only a permanent strain on the self-esteem and confidence of women/girls, it also negatively influences their mobility and access to resources, as well as their basic social, economic and political activities. The workshop addresses issues of violence against women/girls which has an intergenerational impact and victims not be able to express their selves due to the trauma that comes with it. Children learn and reproduce largely in accordance with the gender-roles demonstrated by their parents. It was also observed that indeed, men who witness and experience violence as children are more likely to use violence against their own spouse or children. By the same token, women who witness and experience abuse as children are more likely to become victims in their adult life. Interestingly, women who have undergone female genital mutilation are also more likely to advocate or allow female genital mutilation to happen to their female relatives. At the end of the workshop, the participants were: Sensitize on their legal rights, (a) Equipped with knowledge on types and extent of gender based violence and its consequences. (b) Empower with information on how to break the cycle of violence and were developed on building self-confidence.

Support for Social Stability and Security in Middle Belt and Northeast

In partnership with UNDP and Taraba state government, carried out a project on Support for Social Stability and Security in Middle Belt and Northeast. The project utilized existing structures such as religious, ethnic, political and regional community leaders to peaceful coexistence, inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue to bring about peace and harmony. The Traditional, Government, Security personnel’s such as the Solders, Police, Civil Defense, Vigilantes and community leaders were fully engaged for information, community mobilization and to regularly conduct meetings for inform challenges & to review and analyze results/progress of the project. The project cover a combination of interventions which includes: Raising awareness through sensitization and advocacy using social and behavior change communication/Information, Education and Communication (SBCC/IEC), community mobilization, training and capacity building.

Taraba Marathon for Peace

Organized a sport festival which was tagged ‘Taraba Marathon for Peace’. This activity was carried out in Jalingo, the capital city of Taraba State involving youths from the sixteen (16) LGAs of the state with a price to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd runner up of both male and female categories.

Peace Talk

The Executive Director, Foundation for Peace, Hope and Conflict Management, (FPHCM) – Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Bature initiated Peace Talk between the PDP governorship aspirant, Col. (Dr.) Agbu Kefa and his Co-condentant, Prof. Jerome Nyame.

Book Donation

The Foundation for Peace, Hope and Conflict Management, (FPHCM) – Nigeria recently donate books to School pupils. The beneficiaries are: Excel Model Primary School, Mecapacynth International School, Prince and Princess International Primary School and St. Mary’s Primary School.