Ambassador Eugene Kavune Nzabonimba addressing the forum yesterday. Photo/Courtesy.
The Mountain Journal
A renewed campaign to promote peace, restore family values and empower young people has been launched in Nairobi, with community leaders calling for collective action to address the social challenges facing the country.
The Global Union of Peace and Development (GUPD) yesterday convened a consultative forum for its peace ambassadors at Ofafa Jericho Comprehensive School, where it unveiled initiatives aimed at nurturing responsible citizenship, strengthening family values and creating opportunities for vulnerable groups.
The meeting, led by GUPD President Ambassador Eugene Kavune Nzabonimba, brought together representatives from different parts of the country to chart a common vision for community transformation through dialogue, service and leadership.
Addressing the gathering, Nzabonimba challenged the peace ambassadors to become “vision carriers” committed to promoting harmony and inspiring positive action in their communities.
“A vision carrier is more than a title holder. It is a person who embraces the responsibility of fostering dialogue, encouraging understanding and becoming a bridge for peacebuilding, conflict resolution and community development,” he said.
He urged the ambassadors to uphold professionalism, ethical conduct and accountability as they execute programmes designed to strengthen social cohesion and contribute to the creation of a peaceful, united and prosperous nation.
The forum comes at a time when Kenya continues to grapple with rising cases of youth unemployment, drug abuse, corruption and increasing concerns over the erosion of family values.
Participants proposed a series of practical interventions aimed at addressing these challenges.
Among the recommendations was the establishment of outreach programmes that bring together people from diverse backgrounds to pursue shared development goals.
The ambassadors also pledged to roll out leadership development initiatives targeting both educated and uneducated youth in a bid to reduce social vices such as theft, corruption and drug addiction.
The programmes, they said, would equip young people with life skills, mentorship and opportunities to become agents of positive change.
Recognising the growing needs among vulnerable groups, the caucus announced plans to expand charitable activities across the country.
These include visits to children’s homes, provision of food and essential supplies to disadvantaged families, and support for rescue centres caring for abandoned children.
GUPD President Eugene Kavune Nzabonimba with Ambassador Mary Wahogo at Ofafa Jericho Comprehensive School yesterday. Photos/Courtesy.
The proposal was championed by Ambassador Mary Wahogo, who called on leaders to move beyond rhetoric and respond to the urgent needs of communities.
“We must create systems that restore dignity and hope. Supporting vulnerable children and families is a shared responsibility that requires compassion and commitment,” she said.
The peace ambassadors further resolved to organise workshops, seminars and public awareness campaigns on peacebuilding, conflict resolution and responsible citizenship to deepen civic consciousness at the grassroots.
They also underscored the importance of economic empowerment, proposing financial support mechanisms for skilled youth to help them establish self-employment ventures and reduce dependence on limited formal employment opportunities.
Ms Wahogo who is the programmes director reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to collaborate with government agencies, private sector players and civil society organisations.
“We cannot work in isolation. Partnerships are essential if we are to improve the well-being of communities and deliver sustainable solutions to the challenges affecting our people,” she said.
Ambassador Nzabonimba has in recent years been associated with regional peace and humanitarian initiatives, advocating dialogue, social justice and community empowerment as pathways to sustainable development. Through GUPD and allied organisations, he has championed grassroots peace efforts and the mobilisation of citizens around shared values of unity and service.
Those present expressed optimism that the newly strengthened network of peace ambassadors would play a pivotal role in rebuilding trust, nurturing ethical leadership and inspiring communities to embrace peaceful coexistence.
Their message was simple but urgent: lasting development can only flourish where peace, integrity and shared responsibility take root.
