Plateau
State, situated between the predominantly Muslim North and the predominantly
Christian South, has experienced outbreaks of ethno-political and religious violence
beginning since 1994 with repeated violent conflicts in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008,
2010 and 2011 leading to death and displacement of thousands and destruction of
property worth billions of Naira. ...... read more
These
violent conflicts have resulted to untold hardship for women and children as
well as the youths who form the bulk of the foot soldiers, mental trauma,
physical damage to houses and looting of property, leaving a lot of communities
in Jos seriously scarred by the experience. Many previously mixed neighbourhoods,
towns and villages are now either exclusively Christian or Muslim; a
segregation that has further heightened the Suspicion and fear among the groups
with each suspecting the other to be preparing to launch an attack.
Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace
(DREP) Centre, a dream and initiative of the
Catholic Archbishop of Jos, His Grace, Most Rev. Ignatius A. Kaigama in
collaboration with other Christian, Muslim, Communities and Opinion leaders, is
a non – profit and non-governmental peace building and conflict transformation
organization founded since 2011 to proactively respond to the incessant destruction
of lives and property, the polarization of Christian and Muslims settlements in
Jos and environs, the “revenge” mentality among youths, and the gap created by
prejudice and ignorance of religions. We engage stakeholders in continuous
dialogue and reconciliation processes through trainings, facilitated dialogue,
psycho-social support services and other engagement with children and youths
are the areas that see us contributing to the peace process
PROGRAMS
We bring stakeholders together to
listen to each other, to live alongside each other for a short time within the
learning and retreating environment, and by themselves provide alternatives to
violence.
DREP Centre is a home for all:
youths, women, men, traditional and community leaders, religious leaders,
politicians and special groups such as trade unions, and civil society/peace
organizations needing physical space to engage in training, mediations and
other facilitated interventions. It is ideal for conflicting parties needing
psychological safe space to tell their stories and to listen to one another.
v Training: DREP
Centre provides training of trainers in Alternative Dispute Resolution,
Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution, Advanced Mediation and Dialogue
facilitation Skills. We also provide basic trainings and workshop for community
and religious leaders, youth and women in peace building, conflict
transformation, etc.
v Facilitated Dialogue
Sessions: We creates a rallying point for
organized dialogue between different stakeholders in peace building as well as
in initiate reconciliation and peace building programs within the various
warring communities, engaging communities in continues dialogue and reconciliation
processes.
v Psycho-social
support services: DREP Centre provides
psycho-social support services, trauma healing and cancelling, and Alternative
to Violence (AVP).
v Sports and Arts for
peace: We engage students and youths in
Sports and Arts for Peace which is geared towards transforming possible pain
and anger into creativity. This includes annual Peace Essays, football
tournaments, Spelling Competitions, drama and other cultural presentations.
v Remedial classes for
students in Jos: The Centre holds remedial
classes for youths who have either dropped out of school or do not have the
resources to pursue academics. This is based on our belief that the wide spread
illiteracy among youths is a major conflict driver.
Thematic Areas
ü
Peacebuilding and Reconciliation
ü
Women and youth empowerment
ü
Advocacy and Lobbying
ü
Research and Documentation
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