Generations For Peace launched its first-ever crowdfunding campaign on 1 June, with the plan to raise at least $7000 in 30 days. Funds gathered during the month will go towards supporting a women’s empowerment for peace programme in northern Nigeria.
Over six months, 10 dedicated volunteers will work with approximately 30 women in their local communities to empower them with skills to escape from the ongoing cycles of violence and conflict they face.
In Nigeria, the absence of equal opportunities restricts women’s ability to participate in national development and peace building, both at the community and national levels. In addition, ongoing political, religious, and ethnic violence continues to affect many people in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, especially women and girls.
Commenting on the importance of empowering women in local communities, Joy Anthony, local Generations For Peace volunteer in Kaduna, said: “The programme focuses on helping women realise the important role they can play in the prevention and transformation of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace building and reconstruction. The programme equally seeks to teach sustainable positive values and life skills.”
Adding to this, Abdiel Kude, a fellow Generations For Peace volunteer in Kaduna, stated: “This programme aims to build women’s individual livelihood skills that will, in turn, increase their capacity to break free from the poverty cycle. It also focuses on developing decision-making skills that will enable them to integrate into community life and their society at large.”
Supporters of the campaign can donate through a customized fundraising page on the Global Giving platform, and spread the word by sharing links on social media, including a participating in a Thunderclap campaign by signing up before 16 June.
