For the IDP 2023, MasterPeace Burundi organized three main activities: a seminar, a football festival, and the distribution of school kilts to vulnerable children. The aim was to raise awareness about issues related to climate change, highlight the importance of empowering children and survivors of climate issues as agents of environmental protection, and fight for gender justice. The activities were implemented in partnership with important stakeholders, including the US Embassy, the University of Burundi, the Burundi Football Federation (FFB), and dozens of volunteers. The three activities mobilized 100 kids for the football festival, 88 participants for the COOLtalk, and provided school kits to 148 kids from a camp that displaced people.

1. Education 4 All Campaign: School kits distribution in Maramvya camp for climate displaced people (Saturday the 16th September 2023):

With the support of our local women’s savings and loan associations, we organized a school kit distribution for 148 kids from the Maramvya camp for climate-displaced people. The camp is home to more than 10,000 people, whose entire neighborhood was destroyed by torrential rains and high sea levels in 2019. They were relocated to the camp. Unfortunately, they live in abject poverty, relying on external aid that is never enough to satisfy their needs. An initiative to support 200 women’s economic resilience in the camp helped create jobs and other opportunities for the women’s families. To show how the economic initiatives are progressing, the women contributed money for the education of vulnerable children in the camp. The women’s contribution was matched by MasterPeace Burundi’s volunteers, making it easy to support as many children as possible. In total, 148 children from the camp were supported.

2. COOLtalk: “Nexus between Climate Change and Peace” (Thursday the 21st September, 2023):

We held a hybrid (online and in-person) seminar on the theme “Nexus between Climate Change and Peace” in collaboration with the US Embassy in Burundi through their American Spaces Initiative. The embassy provided us with a space and all the tools that were used for the seminar (laptop, internet). Members of the University of Burundi’s Environment Club were the main target audience of the talk. The objective was to share knowledge on why peace is closely related to climate change. The target audience was the student community at one of the University of Burundi’s campuses. Ninety-four people attended (66 in person, 28 online). Among those who attended online were people from diverse countries, including Malawi, South Africa, the DRC, the USA, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands, to name a few.

Our key speakers were Sneha Harsh from Harvard University, Sudipta Dawn from India, the main focal point for MasterPeace’s Cooleaders campaign, and Aart Bos, the global leader of MasterPeace. Specific examples prove this close linkage, including the never-ending resource-based herders-farmers conflicts in some West African countries (Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Sudan, etc.), the recruitment of combatants by the Al Shabab terrorist group from settlements for survivors of droughts in Somalia, and the multiple resource-based conflicts between host communities and survivors of environmental destruction in countries like Burundi. The discussion also emphasized the role of everyone in preventing the effects of climate change and building a resilient and environment-friendly society for future generations.

3. Football Festival: Combining football and campaign for climate justice (Saturday the 30th of September, 2023):

In partnership with the Burundi Football Association, we organized a football festival with children from Kinama, an underprivileged sector in Bujumbura. This event was organized on the 30th of September from 09:00 to 11:00 a.m. The main goal was to give children the possibility to play football and also to raise their awareness about the protection of the environment, the cleanliness of their neighborhood, the better use of plastic bottles, and other related aspects. The Burundi Football Association gave us permission to use the football pitch in Kinama and provided us with balls, chasubles, whistles, and other related materials. They also sent three representatives, including Joslin Bipfubusa, a senior football trainer and former coach of the
national football team and of some of the biggest football teams in Burundi and the East African region.

MasterPeace Burundi mobilized among its volunteers and other partners 40 volunteer coaches and football educators who came to support the implementation of the activity. A heartbeat video was even done.

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MasterPeace Walk South Africa 2024

ENGAGE with nature, other cultures, history, and yourself
EMPOWER local social entrepreneurs, projects and communities

Are you at a critical juncture in your life?
In search of new, or more meaning to life?

This nature walk in South Africa provides the perfect setting for self-exploration with
Nature as the Prophet.

The multicultural group will ensure a Disconnect from comfort zones and an Opening of new Insights and a Worldview.

 Participate in a unique 10-day experience in the Western Cape Province. Enjoy the company of a group of about 15 international and 15 local participants sharing interesting discussions about life and dreams. Join us in discovering South Africa beyond the touristic areas!

We will hike for 6 days where we will live and sleep in tents in nature. At the beginning and the end of the walk, we will stay in hotels.

Learn about South African traditions, realities, culture, and rituals; discover the work of the local MasterPeace team; disconnect from the hectic Western civilization and luxury; reconnect with nature and yourself; experience the impact of silence, storytelling, sharing, and reflection; walk roughly a total of 100km; enjoy a healthy environment and traditional fresh food.

Direct contact with a local community project is part of the planning. Part of your contribution to the walk will go to these local projects. During the walk participants could explore the realities of 45 beneficiaries from this specific MasterPeace nature walk in South Africa.

Go home with new experiences, friends, and unforgettable memories.

Date: 6-15 March 2024
Area: Western Cape Province, South Africa
Costs: €1850, - (excl. travel)

The Walk is hosted by Nico de Klerk, a local leader of MasterPeace South Africa, his team, and two experienced MasterPeace walkers.

Organized by

Rute Lau (on the right in the picture) and Teresa Urbanowska (on the left) walked as participants in the MasterPeace Walk in Masaailand in 2017 and in Nepal in 2022 and loved the experience.

Nico de Klerk is the leader of MasterPeace Streetbiz South Africa. “We have Nelson Mandela’s legacy to build on and to share that with the world, as he belongs to the world. Therefore, the Be a Nelson Movement, a MasterPeace concept as well, promotes unity, reconciliation, and peace. We have so much to share with you during this walk.”

Contact details for more information:

southafricawalk@masterpeace.org

Application Form South Africa Walk

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MasterPeace Walk South Africa 2024Read More »

MasterPeace Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Peace (IDP) which is celebrated on the 21^st of September each calendar year. The day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to strengthen ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and people.

On 29 September, Masterpeace Zimbabwe (also Mwana Trust) partnered with Rock of Ages Academy to commemorate the IDP as a belated event at the Rock of Ages Academy campus. The two-hour event was dubbed ‘Peace is never an Option’. MasterPeace Zimbabwe believes that teaching young people about peace education is the best way to promote tolerance, co-existence, and ending violence in communities, school environments, and the world at large.

On the day, 38 young people between the ages of 15 -18 were gathered for a peace dialogue where various issues of peace-building, conflict management, and conflict resolution were discussed at large. The importance of a peaceful learning environment and the effects of in-school violence were some of the issues presented by young people and the MastePeace Zimbabwe team.

The event was rounded up with a quiz competition where 3 groups of 3 participants each were formed to respond to the set quiz questions. All questions that were asked throughout the quiz competition were centered on peace education. After the competition, the most successful group was given academic stationery as the winning prize.

In conclusion, the commemoration went well as the participants managed to learn and understand the IDP objectives as well the importance of peace.

Apply: Candidates to apply with the following instructions:
Write an e-mail to maryam@masterpeace.org with the subject line “Application for Project Manager” with your name, up-to-date resume, and a cover letter.

Deadline: January 10th, 2024.