Against the backdrop of a complex socio-political landscape, Gambia grapples with challenges on its path towards peace and stability. Following the political transition in 2016, which saw the end of Yahya Jammeh’s authoritarian rule, the country embarked on a journey towards democratic reform and reconciliation. However, deep-seated socio-economic disparities, ethnic tensions, and institutional weaknesses continue to pose significant obstacles to sustainable peace.
Gambia’s position on the IEP Global Peace Index, ranking 59 out of 163 countries, underscores the urgency of addressing these challenges. With a composite index measuring the peacefulness of countries, Gambia’s score of 1.888 out of 5 reflects the pressing need for concerted efforts towards peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
In this context, Trawally’s commitment to Positive Peace demonstrates the power of understanding peace as inherent and attainable through the strengthening of the eight pillars. As an IEP Ambassador and a dedicated Rotarian, Trawally leverages his experience and passion to drive positive change within his community. His recent peacebuilding project, hosted by the American International University, West Africa, Students’ Union Executive Council, represents a milestone in this journey towards peace and understanding.
Trawally’s project sought to create a Positive Peace network in Gambia, enabling his local community to create and reinforce connections through the access of a multi-stakeholder platform. By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing, this network strengthens the free flow of information Pillar, serving as a channel for sustainable peacebuilding efforts.
“They never knew that such data were available, ranking states based on their level of peacefulness.”
Encouraged by the availability of data ranking states based on their level of peacefulness, they expressed their commitment to promoting peace and understanding within their communities.
“They were inspired by the presentation to call themselves Peace Ambassadors.”
Attendees of Trawally’s training session noted that they left with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to peacebuilding. Motivated by IEP’s data-driven research, participants also expressed a desire to seek further knowledge about peace and to actively contribute to its promotion. Among the attendees were key stakeholders, including the Secretary General and Vice President of the SU Council, how were inspired by Trawally’s presentation to embrace the role of Peace Ambassadors.
Participants were challenged to equip themselves for effective peacebuilding by enrolling in the IEP Positive Peace Academy and joining Rotary clubs. Trawally ensured that all participants would be supported in their peacebuilding efforts. His commitment to supporting his community in this endeavour underscores his dedication to nurturing a new generation of peacebuilders.
Muhammed Trawally’s journey exemplifies the transformative potential of collaboration between Rotary and IEP in fostering Positive Peace within communities. As Gambia navigates its path towards peace and stability, initiatives led by individuals like Trawally empower participants to contribute peacebuilding efforts.
About the IEP Ambassador Program
Throughout the IEP Ambassador Program, participants engage in a series of webinars where they are introduced to IEP’s Positive Peace Framework. The Positive Peace Framework involves using a systems-based approach to better understand the creation and maintenance of peaceful societies.
IEP’s empirically based research teaches us that the health of a society must be understood within the broader context of its attitudes, institutions and structures. Where these are positive, they will contribute to creating a state of Positive Peace. This is as opposed to the common practice of viewing peace as being measured only by the absence of violence, also known as Negative Peace.
To learn more and to participate, please visit IEP Ambassador Program website.
This article is part of a series showcasing the work of graduates of the IEP Ambassador Program, an online course providing the knowledge and tools...
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