Background
The EU co-funded project “Great Lakes Youth Network for Dialogue and Peace” is based on the conviction that youth are a fundamental agent for creating lasting peace among communities and contributing to successful development. However, without a strong network of peers and good contacts with other relevant actors, the youth’s voice remains weak and its impact very limited. Therefore, it is crucial to promote the positive, cooperative, and active role of youth in the Great Lakes sub-region as an actor for more peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.

Project Consortium
The project is executed by a consortium of organizations that have been working in the region for several years. These organizations are located in the countries where the project activities will be implemented, in particular: the German publicly-funded political foundation Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) with its three Country Offices in the DRC, Uganda, and Tanzania. In addition to that the five local partners Pole Institute in Goma, DRC; Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle (VJN) in Gisenyi, Rwanda; Cornerstone Development Africa (CDA) and LéO Africa Institute (LAI) in Kampala, Uganda and Actions for Democracy and Local Governance (ADLG) in Mwanza, Tanzania.

The overall objective of the activity
The Regional Peace summer School will serve for many as an opportunity to meet peers of their neighboring countries for the first time. Long-lasting connections will be made; cultural exchanges and dialogue will contribute to peace in the Great Lakes region. Target group members can develop common action, share best practices and discuss questions related to their fields.

Description of the activity
All target group members from the respective project regions will come together for a one week-long Regional Peace School in Kampala/Entebbe, Uganda, to meet, exchange and continue to dialogue. The Regional Peace summer School will comprise sessions on international affairs and development in the Great Lakes sub-region, youth activism, social affairs, mediation, peace and confidence building as well as on the other fields of action of the youth initiatives. External speakers and stakeholders will be invited to exchange with the youth groups about their work. These sessions will guarantee exchange between all target group members, independent from their field of action. Translation will be offered to overcome language barriers.

Participants
The Regional Peace School will see the participation of approximately 125 people from DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. These include selected youth initiatives and other key stakeholders in politics, the private sector, civil society, development, academia, the media, EU delegation as well as project team members.

Date:  This happened on September 19th to 23rd 2022

Location: Entebbe, Uganda

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