Angolan Centers for Teaching Peace ("ACTP") -
(in Portuguese: Centro Angolano Para O Ensino Da Paz). 

In terms of overview, the statement and purpose of ACTP IS TO RESEARCH AND TEACH MODELS AS HOW ANGOLAN CITIZENS CAN LIVE  IN PEACE AND HARMONY WITH THEMSELVES AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PROMOTION OF EDUCATION TOWARDS PEACE AND NON VIOLENCE, HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY, CIVIC EDUCATION, ETC. 

ACTP is also working to help them experience meaningful lives, faith in the future, joy and personal development.  In short we are working as a team (PACIFICA TEAM) by bringing the message of peace and non violence to others.  

Reasons for promoting this Center: reduction of crime and violence at all the levels, provide a business like focused approach, use new information technology, teach, learn, network etc.... 

MISSION : join effort and help build through civic education, peace culture, non violence, religion and spirituality, a better Angola for our children and advance the peace process in Angola. 

ACTP is a non government organization recognized by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Angolan Republic.  The founders are FREDERIC MVEMBA, ALFREDO DOMINGOS ESTEVES, MVEMBA NEYADI, ISABEL ELESSO ISAAC,LIDIA VISSIPA, CASTELO CALUQUEMBE, ESTER MASSOCOLA,AND CLEMENTE KAMALANDUA. 

Goal: as an independent and non partisan, the goal of the institution is to strengthen the nation's capacity to promote a peaceful management and resolution of problems related to crime and  violence.

The Center has its origin in the tradition of BANTU'S CONCEPTION WHICH SEEK TO LIMIT VIOLENCE AND ACHIEVE A JUST PEACE BASED ON FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND HUMAN DIGNITY.  ACTP also meets all the necessary requirements of the appropriate mandates to expand available knowledge about appropriate ways or means to achieve a more peaceful ANGOLA through an array of programs and a variety of citizen education activities.  In short, our aim is to promote a lasting peace, enhancing co-operation between groups, individuals, churches throughout the national territory, cultivate a good will and a peaceful understanding among all the Angolans and find a way to put an end to the lasting war. 

Objectives: Developing this Center; disseminate information; create representation in all the Angolan provinces, even abroad; developing partnership of peace between the government, churches etc.; activate individuals and the general public to reduce violence and crime at all the levels etc.....  In terms of peace building, we found advisable to use the information technologies to link people. In this case, there is a need to create a central peace workstation in Luanda and 18 regional peace work stations around the country. In terms of communications facilities, the Internet is a powerful means. The numbers of supporters we have is now above six hundred.  Among them we have got many pupils, some students of the faculty of rights, some students of ISCED, some displaced people and some military interested to promote peace (notably in the Navy and the police).

(Note that our book MANUAL PARA A CULTURA DA PAZ E DA NAO VIOLENCIA is ready and as soon as all the conditions will be created, we are going to distribute it to all the pupils of Luanda. In addition to this, we are also intending to translate the book in question into the Angolan  native languages among which KIKONGO, KIMBUNDU, and UMBUNDU.  With this book we are also intending to reach the military in order to motivate them to put an end to the war. 

At the level of provinces, we have a representation in Benguela, Bocoi Ganda, Kuito, Mbanza Kongo, and Cabinda . In Uige, the governor is himself a member of ACTP and is willing to do something for the promotion of lasting peace.  In addition, I would like to add that we have an agreement with the National radio for peace media campaign information dissemination and so forth, including some private newspapers. 

Previous activities include : Promotion of peace education including the UNESCO MANIFESTO.  We have also elaborated 3 years ago, a peace plan for Angola that should be submitted to UN general secretary, etc.  ACTP is now involved in discussion with other NGOs in order to prepare a national campaign for peace and a national coalition for peace and reconciliation workers. 

As to the action plan, we read with a lot of interest the HAGUE Agenda for Peace West Africa Bureau from April 2000 to June 2006.  I suggest that we can follow it, starting our activities as soon as we receive something from donors. 

For more information, contact Frederic Mvemba Mayembe, Angolan Centers for Teaching Peace, Rua Luther King No 101 Bairro das Ingombotas (Maianga), Luanda, Angola.  Email frederic_mvemba@hotmail.com ; fax 244-2-449494; web site http://www.peace.ca/angola.htm