Panel 3: Youth in Development and Peace-Building
Tuesday, 15/7/2008, 16:00-17:30
The category of youth is closely related to cultural definitions and to processes of social change. In the discussions of international donors and NGOs children and youth have traditionally been perceived as victims (of maldevelopment as well as of violence), while the current debate focuses on youth as a security problem (e.g. youth bulges, former child soldiers). But for most developing societies youth represents an important potential for development. The challenge for national governments as well as international donors is how youth can be integrated into development and peace-building projects in spite of social stratification and limited economic prospects. What role does youth play in different social spheres and what are instruments for youth empowerment? Single case studies, comparative research and policy-oriented contributions are equally welcome.
Chair: Sabine Kurtenbach
Discussant: Maxi Schoeman
Conflict and Development: The Role of Madrassa Youth
The theme under Panel 3 could be addressed in the traditional fashion, addressing the role of youth in development. I would like to twist the theme and address it differently. The role of youth in development is almost a cliché, but its role in conflict is a growing concern. The youth are often victims of conflict, and a disturbing dimension of conflict is the growing role of youth in fomenting conflict, as tools or instruments. While the role of young people as ‘child soldiers" is a global concern, one particularly disturbing dimension is the role of youth in religious schools, madrassas (as in Pakistan). This phenomenon started with the Taliban in Afghanistan; it has developed into a grim reality and a formidable political force in Pakistan. This excludes a growing section of the youth from mainstream society, and development. This phenomenon poses a latent threat to peace and security, as witnessed in recent developments, internal as well as external. What role do the madrassa youth play in development? In what ways is this role challenging for the state? How has this role formed a linkage with terrorism? These have become critical questions in the post-9/11 world. While the role of the madrassas has been under scrutiny, the role of the young inmates has an impact beyond the madrassas and beyond the borders of Pakistan.
Luis Moniz Cardoso Periera / Natalie Grove:
Engaging Young People in Conflict Analysis: Case Study from Timor-Leste
In April 2006 violence erupted in Timor Leste as problems within and between the country's armed forces spilt onto the streets. Dili witnessed the displacement of more than 150,000 people, the distribution of weapons to the community and the deaths of soldiers, unarmed police and civilians. News footage reported ‘youth gangs' rioting, throwing rocks and burning houses against a backdrop of a bitterly divided government unable to maintain law and order. Nearly 2 years on, international forces patrol a fragile peace in the capital.
This paper presents findings from the Youth in Action Research Project, a project that documented young people's perspectives on the causes and consequences of this ongoing crisis. Drawing on focus group discussions with over 470 young people across Timor, we hear about the role political leaders played in promoting community violence; how the ethnic divisions of lorosae and loromonu (east and west) were manipulated; why some youth were easily influenced to fight; and how young people see revenge and payback for past injustices fuelling the current problems in Dili.
Youth have unique and important insights into the causes and consequences of violence in their communities. In this paper we argue that providing young people with avenues to critically examine the social and political aspects of conflict is both empowering in its own right and fundamental to the success of any peace-building activities in Timor-Leste.
The Impact of Youth Empowerment on Development and Peace Building
In Kenya the population of youth has been growing rapidly and currently forms about 60% of the total population. This segment of population in the society has been excluded from participating in the country's development and peace building due to unemployment, inaccessibility to information, low education level, vulnerability to HIV and AIDS, non-involvement in governance and human right issues. These factors make youth vulnerable to violence since they are polarised and marginalized. The recent political violence in Kenya in which more than 1000 people died and development that had been realised in some parts of the country was destroyed within a period of one month. Statistics showed that the majority of those who participated in the violence were youth and over ninety percent of those who died were also youth.
This paper examines how a youth initiated bicycle transport industry in Western Kenya has played an important role in peace building. The bicycle transport initiative was started as an informal economic activity by the unemployed youth with an objective of creating employment for themselves. The transport system is used to transport people in the rural areas where there are no other means of transport due to poor roads. Through this transport system, members of the community are able to move within the communities without feeling insecure. The initiative that involved the use of bicycles in the beginning has now included the use of motorbikes and Tuktuk. The bicycle transport has made the youth understand the need for security if they have to continue with their business. Through this economic activity, the youth are able to participate in peace building by sensitising their peers on the importance of peaceful environment as a perquisite for their bicycle transport.