Northern Region: SWIDA Ghana, Coginta Kickstart peace sensitization initiative in secondary schools

Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA Ghana), a non-governmental organization focused on empowering women in Northern Ghana has partnered with Coginta, an international security organization, to introduce series of sensitization activities in secondary schools throughout the region.

The collaborative effort is part of the "Preventing Electoral Violence and Providing Security to the Northern Border Regions of Ghana (NORPREVSEC) project," generously supported by the European Union. The project is aimed at preventing conflicts and fostering peaceful coexistence among the youth of the region.

Through these engagements, SWIDA Ghana aims to actively involve students from participating secondary schools and communities, equipping them with valuable knowledge on peacebuilding and empowering them to become advocates against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

The official launch of the project took place at Ambariya Senior High School in Tamale metro, where students underwent comprehensive training on peacebuilding and advocacy against sexual and gender-based violence.

During her address at the training, Hajia Alima Sagito Saeed, the Executive Director of SWIDA Ghana, emphasized the crucial role of youth in promoting peace.

She highlighted the vulnerability of young people during times of conflict and underscored the importance of their active participation in nurturing peaceful communities.

Hajia Alima further underscored the complex nature of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and its potential to ignite conflicts within the region.

She emphasized the need for comprehensive efforts to address SGBV and create an environment that fosters harmony while safeguarding the rights and well-being of all community members.

Hajia Alima outlined the three interconnected stages of peace, namely physical, psychological, and structural, underscoring that the absence of any of these stages could undermine overall peace and stability.

Echoing Hajia Alima's remarks on youth vulnerability in conflict situations, Vitus Yetawore, a Programs Facilitator from Coginta, highlighted the pivotal role of students as ambassadors of peace.

He encouraged them to actively promote peace within their schools and homes, noting that it is important to report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.