The Sirigu Women’s Organisation for Pottery and Arts (SWOPA) in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region of Ghana has been awarded a $2,000 grant from the Global Community Enhancement and Resilience Fund, facilitated by the Caro Bellamy Leadership through STAR-Ghana.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Federick Yenbaar Nuuri-Teg, Project Manager for Northern Ghana at the STAR Ghana Foundation, explained that the funding is aimed at women-led and women-focused organizations promoting the prevention of violence and violent extremism. He stated, “SWOPA emerged as the top candidate among the applications we received. Today marks the official start of their activities, which include identifying women as peace brokers within their communities.”
The project has identified five communities to work with, each represented by five women who have been trained over two days by the Bolgatanga Regional Peace Council. The training focused on understanding the role of women in peacebuilding and educating them about the risks of recruitment into violent extremist organizations.
Mr. Yenbaar Nuuri-Teg emphasized that the project aims to build the capacity of these women, empowering them to become ambassadors for peace in their communities. The next phase involves community-level engagement, where these women will lead discussions based on their training.
This initiative is set to run for three months and will incorporate livelihood skills to further support the selected women.
Mr. Ali Anankpieng, Secretary of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to peacebuilding that involves all community stakeholders, including men, women, youth, and persons with disabilities. He noted that this initiative comes at a crucial time, reinforcing the critical role of women as peace agents.
“The trained women are expected to guide peacebuilding processes in their communities as leaders. They should initiate conversations about peace, even within their smaller groups,” he said. He encouraged them to integrate peacebuilding activities into their village savings and loan groups, fostering a collective effort among all women, regardless of their backgrounds.
Mrs. Bridget Akasisi, manager of SWOPA, described the organization as actively engaged in basketry, weaving, pottery, and crafts in the Upper East Region. She emphasized that this project aims to enhance women’s involvement in decision-making related to peacebuilding and address issues of violent extremism, including the participation of minority groups and refugees.
During the training, participants explored the nature of conflict and the importance of choosing peace over violence. They learned about the tools necessary for peacebuilding and reflected on their roles as peace advocates.
Participant Adama Aisha shared her insights from the training, expressing that while they can manage minor conflicts, understanding violent extremism is crucial. She noted, “We learned how to handle small problems in our homes without escalating them. Knowing about peace is essential.”
Source: mywordfmonline.com/ Gaspard Ayuureneeya Adongo.