Arigatou International GNRC conducted an outdoor peace activity for youth at Tononoka Social Hall in Mombasa, Kenya on the 23rd of April 2016. GNRC hosted the activity under its program dubbed Community Resilience Against Violent Extremism (CRAVE). More than a hundred youth drawn from Mombasa County attended the workshop. Local elders, persons with disability, women leaders, youth leaders as well as the local Government were well represented. Among other organisations represented in the event were: Pwani Youth Network, Reach Out Center Trust, Faris Rubeya Foundation and Company, Kenya Youth for Change, Amani Pwani and al-Muqtadir Organization for the physically handicapped. The aim of the event was to create awareness and empower the youth towards peace, social co-existence and to campaign against exploitation.

A group photo of some of the participants in a focus group discussion session

During the event, topics such as drugs and substance abuse, children abuse, youth exploitation and lack of employment were discussed. The need for education, obedience, teamwork and success were widely conversed as well. The youth agreed to have a role as stakeholders of the society in developing their region and country at large.

Above, participants’ contributions to discussions

The youth also learnt about CRAVE and their roles, rights and responsibilities in the society towards peace and development. The event concluded with a football match.

A group photo of the football teams and their coaches before the game