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Secondary school students across Freetown have received training on peacebuilding, conflict prevention and constructive dialogue as part of efforts to strengthen a culture of peace and social cohesion among young people.
The training was held on Thursday, August 20, at the Integrity House Conference Room on Tower Hill under the Catch Them Young initiative, which seeks to promote ethical leadership, social responsibility and civic engagement among Sierra Leonean youths.
The session was facilitated by Titus Mohamed Kallon, Acting Director of Conflict Prevention at the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), under the theme, “Peace Begins With Us: Young People, Conflict Prevention and Building Social Cohesion.”
Kallon encouraged the students to view peace as more than the absence of physical violence, emphasizing the importance of tolerance, respect, empathy, dialogue and the peaceful management of differences.
He urged the participants to recognize their role in preventing conflicts in their schools and communities, noting that small disagreements can escalate into larger disputes when they are not addressed early.
During the interactive session, students discussed common causes of conflict within their schools and communities and explored practical ways of addressing tensions before they escalate.
Participants identified active listening, respect for opposing views and constructive dialogue as important tools for resolving disagreements and promoting peaceful coexistence.
The training forms part of the broader Catch Them Young initiative, conceptualized by Alex A. Bah, Head of Public Relations at Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and a Rotary Peace Fellow at Makerere University in Uganda.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the ACC and the West African Youth Network (WAYN), alongside other strategic partners, with a focus on instilling values of integrity, anti-corruption, ethical leadership, conflict prevention and social responsibility among young people.
Through engagements of this nature, the initiative seeks to equip students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to become active champions of peace, dialogue and positive social change in their schools and communities.
