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Title: Promoting non-violence among Guyanese youth
Location:
Categories: Education
Media
Peace & Conflict
Status:
Completed
Timeline:
April 1 11 to September 30 11
Description:
The project seeks to reach:
• Limers direct beneficiary via VYC Peace educators conducting street shows at sea walls, stabroek market and city mall. The project will target 3500 Youth hanging out (liming) at these sites in the capital city of Georgetown
• Youth (young people) – direct beneficiary via DJs radio, television and public events. The project will target 1500 youth at these public events.
Secondary beneficiaries:
• Parents of youth
• Teachers at 10 High schools
• Wider community members listening to DJs on radio and television and also those witnessing street shows and mural exercise.
The project will be implemented at the following venues:
• Sea walls – on average 1000+ young people and families hang out every Sundays
• Stabroek Market – on average 500+ young people hang out on Fridays
• City Mall – on average 500+ young people hang out on Saturdays
• DJs street parties and special events
• Youth in Georgetown and wider region participating in mural
Expected outcomes
Increased youth participation in non-violence activities
Reduce the number of reported cases of youth-led violence.
Increase youth advocate during period of elections.
Background:
Guyanese Youth have never stood collectively as one to say no to crime and violence. For the past 5 decades, the country has been entrenched in acts of youth-led protests and subsequent violence during elections.
Youths who are experiencing exclusion and other forms of discrimination are easy to coerce and indoctrinate to join criminal gangs. As in prior elections, unrest was seen around the capital city of Georgetown and along the East Coast and West Coast villages of Guyana. Youth were responsible for road blockages, burning of tires, hijacking of vehicles and barricading entry into offices of the buildings, schools, and other educational establishments, hostage takeover and creating disorder in the streets and other areas of business. Young people also have acted as a decoy interrupting planned meetings and other activities/ services planned by political parties. There are underlying motives of self enrichment and economic opportunities.
Research by Iowa University, has shown that violent music unequivocally increases the likelihood of aggressive and violent behaviour in youth both immediately and long term. The type of lyrics Guyanese youth listens to incite violence. These lyrics are introduced on the market by popular DJs that attract a large pool of youth. Thus, sensitizing these media figures before elections to use positive lyrics with positive messages would greatly reduce the level of violence in the capital city.
Volunteer Youth Corps’ mission seeks to make a positive contribution to the development of youth in Guyana and is deeply concerned that nothing is being done by civil society to address youth-led violence before and after general elections. In the past, VYC organized peace vigils among leaders (religious, political and civil society) to foster an environment to promote peace among all Guyanese during this period and beyond. It is recognized at this time that there is tension and uncertainty among all Guyanese. This event is an opportunity for us to raise our voices as one, in support of all things peaceful and renounce hate and violence. Today, fear is at the forefront of people’s minds as there was a bomb explosion and several bomb scares in public places such as public markets and at our International Airport.
Objectives:
The project will seek to effectively promote non-violence among at-risk youth in capital city of Georgetown by the end of September, 2011.
The following activities will be executed over the period:
• Training - Over a period of 1 week, VYC will train 30 Peace Educators in the art of drama. The training will be executed at VYC’s office at the commencement of the project. The training will be facilitated by two facilitators from Artistes In Direct Support ( An NGO working in Drama). A sensitization workshop will also be organized with 9 popular Disc Jockeys (DJs) on the importance of promoting the message of non-violence to their audience. The session will last 2 half-day.
• Targeting the DJs to sell the messages of non-violence – VYC will mobilize 9 popular radio and television Disc Jockeys (DJs) from across the country to join the efforts to promote youth-led, violence free general election. DJs will develop messages which will be added to the popular music lyrics to spread to their wide fan base. This activity is important as a means of raising awareness about the youth and violence while motivating their fan base to spread the message. This activity will commence at the beginning of the project and continued over the project life.
• Youth-led street Theater - Over a period of 1 week, VYC will train 30 Peace Educators in the art of drama. Once weekly, VYC will develop weekly 15 minutes street shows at popular hang out sites for young people. 12 Street shows will be done over a 6 months period. This activity is important to effectively propagate social and political messages and to raise youth awareness regarding critical issues.
• Mural- pledge to stop violence – VYC will organize a mural painting exercise where youth across Georgetown and other parts of the region can pledge their support for non-violent elections. The exercise targets 500 individuals. This event will be well promoted by DJs on radio and television likewise during street shows. VYC will organize for the murals to remain during elections as a symbol of young people’s unity in stopping violence. Persons will be encouraged to use different color paint to make a hand print. Each print signifies ‘no to violence and yes to youth development.
Milestones:
Training of 20 Peace Educators
Training of 9 DJs
Promotion of activities (television, radio, flyers, DJs street events)
12 Street Threatre
Mural painting exercises
Budget:
24,700
Needs:
Volunteer to be Peace Educators,
Stipends for Volunteers
Facilitators for Drama Workshop
Script Writer
Contact Name: Korey Anthony Chisholm
Contact Email Address: kchisholmvyc@gmail.com
Contact Phone Number: +5926621441 or +5922271011
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