Youth lead unique peace programme in the Caribbean

After a successful staging of the Nkabom peacebuilding and leadership programme by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) last year in Rwanda, Carimentors: Canada’s and the Caribbean’s Nkabom youth representatives, are set to replicate the programme in St. Kitts and Nevis, from the 21 to 25 of September.

Supported by the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre [CYPCC] and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, the ‘CanaCaribe: Peacebuilding and Leadership Training Programme 2011’ will bring together youth leaders and peace-builders from across the region.

Nkabom means ‘coming together’ in the Ghanaian language of Twi, and is a flagship initiative of the RCS. It is a biennial programme which facilitates the training of youth leaders from Commonwealth Nations. Each region represented in Rwanda, was charged with the responsibility of taking what was learned over the 10-day training period to aid in the execution of a similar event locally.

Exactly a year after Nkabom, CanaCaribe 2011 is seeking to contribute to the reduction of violent conflicts in the region and Canada by training youth leaders, engaging and building strong youth-led networks aimed a pioneering peacebuilding programmes throughout the region. The programme aims to:

–       Expose participants to some of the root causes of conflict within the region.

–       Establish a regional network of young peace-builders and community advocates who will share knowledge and resources, and work together toward a peaceful and prosperous Caribbean.

–       Highlight the steps being taken by Governments and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to deal with violent conflicts and identify ways in which these measures can be best replicated in other countries throughout the region.

CanaCaribe chairman and Steering Committee member, Crystal Alexander from the Bahamas, states: “We are proud to produce such a timely programme that will significantly impact the region. The participants are from diverse backgrounds and have remarkable community service experience. They have been identified as agents of change who are committed to the promotion of peace and parity within their environments.”

Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre [CYPCC] Regional Director, Ms. Dwynette D. Eversley is full of praise for the efforts of the Carimentors team.  She says that “The CYP will continue to partner with youth leaders on programmes that complement CYP mandates and the needs of Commonwealth Member States, and most importantly, contribute to genuine youth participation in creating social wellbeing and development.”

When: September 21-25 2011

Where: Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis

You can contact Steering Committee members at carimentors@gmail.com. Visit our website and Facebook page at http://canacaribe.webs.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/carimentors/ . For more information on Nkabom, please visit http://www.thercs.org/youth/nkabominfo .  Join the Commonwealth Youth Programme on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/CommonwealthYouthProgramme/ and visit our website at www.thecommonwealth.org