How best can students in higher learning institutions in Yamoussoukro be made to promote peace and non-violence ? This was the question at the centre of a capacity-building training workshop organised by the United Nations Operation (UNOCI) from 15 to 17 April 2016 for members of Peace Clubs.

The training programme was part of a follow-up to recommendations made during a series of peace sensitisation activities organised in May 2015 by the Ivorian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in partnership with the United Nations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Public Information Officer Cécile Senghor, who represented UNOCI, explained that the organisation of the training programme for members of Peace Clubs was part of UNOCI’s mandate.

Some of the main priorities of this mandate, she said, was strengthening social cohesion, national reconciliation and consolidating peace. Mrs Senghor therefore encouraged participants to be active on the ground.

« After this training, your club must focus on carrying out concrete actions which would identify your members as icons and messengers of peace in your campus and within your respective communities, » she added.

During the first session of the capacity-building programme, participants were trained on behaviour change communication techniques, HIV/AIDS in universities, journalistic writinge, human rights and non-violence in universities, photography, creating a blog and sensitisation on non-violence by practising contradictory debate.

The initiative was well received by Brou Yao, the deputy director of extra-curricular activities at the National Institute Polytechnic of Yamoussoukro. Mr. Brou is also the focal point of the university peace campaign in Yamoussoukro.

« We say thank you to UNOCI for its constant support in an effort to give another image to our universtities and higher education colleges which has nothing to do with violence. Dear members of the peace club, show your commitment to the cause of peace through your dynamism and your activities on the ground », he added.

For his part, Maxime Yeboi, president of Yamoussoukro Peace Club, promised that his club would become a true ambassador of peace within educational institutions in the Ivorian political capital. « Very soon you will see us in all the schools in the city to carry out sensitisation on peace and non-violence according to our slogan which is: Peace for a Promising Future », he said.