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Dear friends:

Because of the general misconception of ideas behind the African Centre for Peace Education and Training (ACPET) an offshoot of the Pan-African Reconciliation Centre (PARC) we hereby wish to further inform you all about its lofty objectives. This is because we need your support in whatever form to make it a success.

Preamble:

As a result of the overwhelming euphoria that trailed PARC's successful performance in making the Hague Appeal for Peace campaign in the West African sub-region a success during the May 1999 centennial conference, the need for its deliberate, carefully planned and sustained infor-mation dissemination endeavor became increasingly felt.

Currently, our main task in the sub-region is the Global Campaign for Peace Education which also emerged as one of the core projects of the Hague Appeal for Peace in 1999. The purpose is to develop capacities for challenges of unprecedented proportions with an effort to build on 45 years of UNESCO peace educators and associations for the ultimate purpose of implementing the 1994 plan for peace education as endorsed by ministers of 144 countries worldwide.

Obviously the project will make the world move from a Culture of Violence to that of Peace and we are happy to be part of it in our own little way. Since it is imperative for us to have a "vehicle" to convey this unique masterpiece and other unparalleled African traditionally instructional materials to the general public, the need for setting up the center now cannot be overemphasized.

Background to the creation of the Centre:

Robert Stewart our friend, mentor and the Director of the Canadian Centre for Teaching Peace mooted the brilliant idea after the successful inauguration of the "Paxafricana" email list service in 1999 and ACPET's Web site in July 2000. He basically designed it as a virtual establishment to be equipped with an Internet ready computer workstation entirely for PARC staff and others who might be interested in peace building in the country but time and circumstances eventually gave the brilliant concept a novel direction.

Bob's initial vision was to liaise with a reputable local institution that can provide a safe place for students to log on to the Internet and learn everything they need to know for helping their country to develop. This could be in terms of peace-building, economic and social development, communications, networking etc. He was of the firm belief that the Rotary Club of Okotoks in Alberta, Canada, should be better placed to link up with their counterparts in Nigeria for the purpose of making moral, material and financial provision necessary for Internet connection as far as the project is concerned.

He eventually sought the support of Rotary Club members in the country with more computer expertise for the purpose of exploring innovative satellite link to the Internet so as to get around telephone problems in developing countries with the Lagos as a 'prototype'. Barring all odds, the Lagos E-Peace Project will commence during the first quarter of 2002. As a prelude to that initial take off, we have started to conduct occasional weekend courses on conflict resolution, peace-building and nonviolence education at our premises.

External Collaborative Support:

Right now, we savor the kind support of the Threshold Foundation in Germany. The foundation which is already a 'member' of Paxafricana has offered to train both PARC and the Centre's staff in fundraising and online efficiency early next year free of charge possibly at our premises. It focuses on programs to improve the work of NGOs working in the fields of human rights, citizens' diplomacy, environmental protection and conflict management.

ACPET is also exploring and seriously considering partnership arrangements with The Network University of the Netherlands (TNU). The institution, a centre for collaborative learning, is a network of universities and conflict resolution experts rooted in the University of Amsterdam. It offers innovative courses online, addressing the learning needs of a worldwide audience of professionals and students. Currently it works in conjunction with the Centre for Conflict Resolution, Department of Peace Studies, Bradford University in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, a four-week online certificate course in Conflict Resolution for the ninth and tenth time is being conducted to end in December. For further information and course demonstration you can visit their site at: http://www.netuni.nl/demos/tcc/

More reputable institutions both within and outside Africa are expected to join in this laudable effort to nurture the emergent vibrant Centre to expected maturity in the interest of the great peoples of Africa and their kin in the Diaspora.

So far so good, here are facts and figures of the Centre as at today.

Status: Training of trainers on peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and peace-building as catalyst for the Global Campaign for Peace Education. (see also Action Plan below)

Target: Civil society groups in Africa.

Candidates: Peace activists from both English and French speaking countries.

Resource persons: local and foreign

Logistics Coordinators: Ade. Adenekan (Nigeria) and Robert Stewart (Canada). See www.peace.ca/africa.htm and www.peace.ca for profiles.

Duration: Indefinite and subject to availability of funds.

Summary: The objective of the training centre is to deepen the pedagogical skills of African peace educators and trainers in active nonviolence. Special emphasis is placed on peaceful settlement of disputes and knowledge of conflict prevention for community leaders and grassroots peace activists.

The rationale: The entire continent of Africa has been the bedrock for fratricidal wars with the usual loss of human and material potentials. Several millions of deaths are always recorded while thousands are maimed and displaced under bestial conditions.

The core objectives:
Leadership training and peace education.
Establishment of an information bureau for conflict resolution.
Mediation and counseling services for the members of the public.
Conflict resolution outreach programs.
Training of Nonviolent peace activists and conflict resolution experts for spontaneous deployment to douse outbreak of violence.
Identify causes and prevention of conflicts.
Encouragement of inter-regional projects and exchange programs.
Women Empowerment.
Youth Empowerment
Promotion of Culture of Peace Programs

The Goals: ACPET seeks to:
train nonviolent conflict resolution activists to serve the entire African network.
Maintain effective communication links with similar bodies both within and outside Africa.
Build a formidable African Peace Team for deployment to crises torn environments..

Beneficiaries: Civil society groups in the entire African context.

Indirect beneficiaries:
Direct victims of conflicts and Internally Displaced
Persons as a result of war and natural disasters.

Training contents:
Causes of conflicts and their prevention in Africa.
Conflict management and resolution.

Approaches to conflict management:
existing traditional or customary methods of adjudication.
Orthodox practices.
Neutral Nonviolent intervention
Trauma healing and counseling
Training on Fundamental Human Rights
Communication skills.
Inter-cultural awareness
Team building for mediation, negotiation, brokerage, arbitration etc.
Human rights protection and promotion including fact finding, election monitoring, technical assistance, healing and forgiveness.
Skills for leadership tendencies, research methodologies, planning and group dynamics.

The primary group:
The lower ranks of national security forces.
Motor garage operatives.
Prison warders
Students of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
Trade unionists
Politicians
University lecturers and legal practitioners.
NGO officials.
Gender organizations.

Secondary groups:
Private Kindergarten and primary schools.
The family units particularly in the rural settings
Internally Displaced Persons
Grassroots organizations
Religious groups.
Professional bodies.

The Strategies:
Development of local personnel in capacity building
Organizing training workshops, seminars and conferences.
Development of training resources adapted to local needs.
Gathering of materials for a functional library
Research on traditional conflict resolution practices.
Lobbying and advocacy in traditional African methods.
Showing of films on Conflict Resolution and peace education.
Collaboration with other institutions having similar aims and objectives.

Main targets:
Religious leaders.
Widows and orphans.
Youths.
Community leaders
Intellectuals.
International agencies.
Local organizations.
The news media
Theatre
Business entrepreneurs.
Legal practitioners.
Internally Displaced Persons.

Currently Identified Causes of Conflicts in the continent:
Mass unemployment.
Poverty
Financial rat race.
Insensitivity of the governments to the plights of the governed.
Religious fanaticism.
Destitution
Illiteracy
Exorbitant rent.
Uncontrolled inflation.
Insecurity of lives and property
Greed.
Undue influence by the rich on the poor.
Inordinate ambition.
Crave for material benefits.
Gross human rights violation.
Political power tussle.
Abuse of trust and confidence.
Social differences and lack of mutual understanding.
Border disputes.
Tribalism and ethnicism
Concept of "might is right"

What ACPET sets to achieve:
Elimination of violence in its entire ramification.
Demonstration and enhancement of tolerance amongst the people.
Building of strong nonviolent problem-solving attitudes in the African society such that people will not resort to arms in solving their disputes.
Strengthening the African Regional network for Peace.
Identification of the root causes and elimination of conflicts in the entire African region.

The Management Structure:
A 10-man Management Committee is responsible for ensuring the effective performance of the Centre while changes on it are made as and when necessary.

Who are we now?
Basically we are still a virtual structure which means that our "class room" is the ever-growing "Paxafricana" email list service. Currently it has about 200 members cutting across the entire world regardless of race, creed and nationality. The 'outreach station' - our web site is already in place while the "main campus" the Internet/Satellite Workstation and physical site proper will, all things being equal, take off effectively in the first quarter of 2002.

Our firm belief:
We are of the firm belief that the fate of Africa lies in the hands of Africans and the expectation from the international community must be to help pool the available human, natural and material resources for the welfare of its teeming millions. Bombs, bullets, landmines and other weapons of mass destruction must be seen as an anathema for its growth and development.

One can thus understand why we always encourage the civil societies to be more determined in the development of skills on peace education, promotion of vigorous peace initiatives, fact finding, mediation, conflict prevention, reconciliation and resolution.

Our ultimate focus:
Since peace is not just the absence of war, violence and hostilities but a situation whereby everyone has access to all good things of life including basic freedoms our educational curricula will be multi-dimensional. The ultimate target will be for our governments to:
reduce arms and defense expenditure, re-allocate financial resources to improve science and technology;
support all peace, social justice and human rights networks accredited to institutions;
Promote conflict prevention, reconciliation and resolution.
Develop and support programs that will enhance and sustain peace, social justice and human rights.
Support sub-regional inter-governmental groupings to increase their roles in conflict resolution, prevention and management of internal crises.
Establish "peace fund" for conflict prevention, management and resolution as well as warning systems.
Review, monitor and appraise the implementation of the Kampala Plan of Action on women and peace.
Ensure gender parity in peace negotiation and conflict resolution.
Review conference on the 1980 Inhuman Weapons Convention and categorically prohibit the use of land mines in all conflicts - local, national and international.
Enact legislation prohibiting recruitment of children under 18 years for armed conflicts in accordance with Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Make peace education compulsory in all our educational institutions.
Educate peace workers and keepers to respect human rights, criminal and civil procedures: and
Sensitize communities on the role of women and youth on the Culture of Peace.

Our ultimate goal is to provide a forum of excellence, superior contemplation, research and intellection for peace and conflict resolution in the interest of not only Africa but also of the entire global race. A typical strong foundation is already laid and we hope you all will join us in building the expected strong tower of peaceful corporate existence and social justice.

With warm regard.

Ade. Adenekan.
Executive Director.
<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>
Pan-African Reconciliation Centre &
African Centre for Peace Education
PO Box 9354 Marina,
Lagos City 101221,
Nigeria.

Tel: (234-1)4717782, 4724197
Mobiles +2348028316360 and 803-387-6216
Fax/Voice Mail: +1-267-821-6944
Email: afropax@gmail.com
Website: www.peace.ca/africa.htm
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FORWARD! with peace in Africa; subscribe
paxafricana@gemini.cia.com
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"Forces that threaten to negate life must be
challenged by courage, which is the power of life to
affirm itself in spite of life's ambiguities. This
requires the exercise of a creative will that enables
us to hew out a stone of hope from a mountain of
despair" - Martin Luther King, Jr.
<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*

Action Plan:

HAGUE AGENDA FOR PEACE
WEST AFRICA BUREAU
ACTION PLAN
APRIL 2000 - JUNE 2006

Time - Frame	Entry Points	Activities	Objectives	Personnel Needed	Methods, Materials/Logistics	Expected Outcome
April - October 2000	Educationists Youths Adults	Eradication of illiteracy	Peace - education for both the youth and the adult	Skilled Trainers	Teaching Aids: songs, role plays & theatre arts	Acquisition of education and dissemination of knowledge to members of the community.
November 2000 - April 2001	Peace - activities, religious ministers teachers mediators, trade unionists, police politicians. Social Workers	Training of trainers in nonviolence education. Regional Network of trainers for West Africa.	Seminars Workshops	Skilled Trainers	Teaching aids, team work, round-table discussions, role plays.	Peace-building for the entire society.
May - October 2001	Youths Women Media-houses	Civic Education Including Non-violence and conflict Resolution	Reduction of crime rates. Respect for life and property.	Skilled Trainers	Megaphone, Teaching Materials, Discussion, Pictures Drama	Dissemination of information to the community. Creation of awareness.

November 2001 - April 2002	Women, Men and Youths.	Peace and reconciliation workshops. Family life Education Training facilities Adult Education	Propagation of Culture of peace and nonviolence in the sub-region.	Skilled trainers	Radio Drama Video-shows Banners TV Stickers	Promotion of love, mutual respect and unity amongst our people etc..
May - October 2002	Police Prison Army	Workshops peace building	Transformation	Trainers	Teaching materials Discussions picture Drama Banners	To rebuild the positive attitudes respect for life.
November 2002 - May 2003	Schools	Peace clubs	Sensitization peace- building trauma - healing	Trainers	Teaching - Aids	Reduction of violence in the society
January - December 2003	Civil groups	Gender Groups and Seminars	Fostering of peace process		Roles plays Songs and dances	Reduction of crime rates in the society
July - December 2003		Peace talks, Marches and Campaigns			Folklore stories and oral traditions etc.
January - June 2004	Conflict Resolution Centres in Africa (Trainers)	Exchange Programmes	Learning how to handle conflicts; sharing ideas with others already in the field	Trainers	Writing of letters Sharing ideas Funds raising	To equip trainers for effective work.
July - December 2004	Families Grassroots- Orgnaisations Religious groups Bankers Teachers Trade Unionists	Mediation Services				Resolution of problems and establishment of peace initiatives.
January - June 2005	Schools Police and other security forces	Publicity	Public enlightenment on the Culture of Peace.	Social workers	Religious ministers Radio Television Peace Talk	Information dissemination on the Culture of Peace.
July - December 2005	Government Ministries Companies Grassroots-Organisations	Consultancy Services	Consultancy Service to the public.	Developing Consultancy Service	Brochures and teaching aids.	Extension of assistance problems resolution
January - June 2006	Security forces Prisons Trade Unions Politicians Teachers Women leaders Bankers Families	Material Development	Public Enlightenment on conflict resolution and the culture of peace	Trainers	Teaching Aids Video Camera Pictures and slides.	Discouragement of misinformation on the Culture of Peace and Nonviolence.

Ade Adenekan,
Coordinator, HAP West-Africa
c/o Pan-African Reconciliation Centre,
P.O.Box 9354 Marina,
Lagos City,
Nigeria. email parc88@yahoo.com

Tel: (234-1)4717782, 4724197 Mobiles +2348028316360 and 803-387-6216
Fax/Voice Mail: +1-267-821-6944
Email: afropax@gmail.com
Website: www.peace.ca/africa.htm

Entry Points