SI MONTHLY NEWS June 2007 Peace Comments
From SI Exco News
42nd Generation Seminar
Peace in Africa is Achievable
Speech by Yawa Sellaisse Ababio
Nat Sec for Servas Ghana (www.servasgh.org)
Director of Legistics Sellas Ventures Hostess of Legistics Traffic Watc(www.legisticstrafficwatch.com)
Impressions and Prejudices
It is amazing how you grow up thinking something is good only if it is done the way you know how. More often than not, we are not ready to even find out about other ways and about other people.
A study of all the countries on the continent would show belief practices, customs and ethnic foods that are virtually the same. Peace in Africa is very achievable if we go beyond our misconceptions and prejudices to begin to get to understand one another and forge friendships.
We have got to provide platforms such as this one where we can talk about peace in practical terms and thereafter begin to implement what we say we would do. In looking for ways to do so, below are a few options I can suggest.
Servas Internat., an example for Peace-building
Open doors and ensuring world peace through the promotion of friendships and the understanding of other cultures, that is what Servas International is about. As is said in Servas, “with every true friendship, we build the basis for World peace”. Servas means "serve" in Esperanto and is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization in about 120 countries worldwide and is made up of Hosts and Travelers. Our hosts open their lives and homes whiles travelers are open to seek, learn and experience. Servas provides opportunities and personal contacts between individuals of diverse cultures and backgrounds
African Version
It is not only when you have a posh home and lots of money that you can show hospitality to some one else. What you need is an open mind and a genuine desire to make friends and overcome prejudices. We could begin to build a strong partnership among ourselves as Africans and if possible create our version of Servas in Africa which gives meaning to life and to all that we do.
Tourism, Discovering and Peace building
Tourism can be defined in an all-embracing term as 'Movement of people to destinations away from their place of residence for any reason other than following an occupation, remunerated from within the country visited, for 24 hours or more.
Servas Ghana NS@ Peace seminar
know one another better we need to move from where we are based to discover and learn about people and places outside our regions. Tourism can and does promote peace.
Entrepreneurship; Engaging Ourselves for Posterity
As the world is moving on, is Africa ready to step in place and be counted? Our governments have many challenges to grapple with daily. They cannot do it all The private sector can bring substance to policies that our leaders put in place. According to consultant Brian Attingh, “Entrepreneurs are not simply individuals who set out to make money, but individuals who set out to do something no-one has ever done before, and in the process happen to make money” They create and others follow.
Youth and Peace now and in the Future
As we seek to unite and create a united front, we must preserve all good initiatives we start. One way is by bringing young ones on board, ensuring they understand enough to be able to carry on what we start. It is usually the young ones that are persuaded to channel their youthful exuberance into violence and bloodshed. The Youth can be for Peace and now is the time to get them on board.
Direction and Mentoring
Again, if young people find peaceful uses and avenues for their energies, our African societies would be a better place to live and we can grow old in peace. We the older generation need to find time to listen to and understand young people instead of simply dismissing them as “not serious”. I have met young persons with such brilliant ideas that make me wonder if I have anything to offer them. They have raw talents that need training and shaping. They need to be guided and directed and mentored and encouraged to go into private ventures and into entrepreneurship. That way they can be self sufficient, not be too dependent on the government to meet all their needs and they in turn would be creating opportunity for others.
Therefore…
In conclusion, I would say that if we look at these things closely and take steps to make them a reality then we would begin to make our societies better places to live in and we would be better neighbours and our continent would be a better place for all of us. It is possible, it is achievable.
Peace be with all of us, I thank you all very much.
uploaded by Amelia
