Peacebuilders
Inter-religious dialogue in Jos, Nigeria
13 August 2009
Please tell us about Carefronting Nigeria.
Carefronting is principally a conflict resolution and peacebuilding organisation with a focus on inter-religious harmony. I work as Coordinator where I facilitate workshops, train facilitators and am part of a team that carries out conflict assessments as well as designing training modules and manuals to meet the needs of the different groups we work with. I also take a lead role in advocating the concerns of the individual groups.
Why is the work of Carefronting so important?
One of the biggest problems in Northern Nigeria is religious intolerance between Christians and Muslims which has caused years of fighting and tension and has had devastating consequences for thousands of people. Christians and Muslims make up more than 80% of Nigeria's population and until both faith communities learn to live together in peace the future for the people of Nigeria will be one of fear and uncertainty. Carefronting has been able to build trust with both communities and is committed to encouraging and facilitating inter-religious dialogue.
Please tell us about Carefronting's Inter-religious dialogue project.
Following the violence of November 2008 in Jos Plateau State, Carefronting intervened. We held training sessions for both faith communities on 'Trust and Relationship Building' that focused on building bridges across faiths and ethnic differences. To encourage both sides to bond with each other we introduced football and instead of Christians playing against Muslims we insisted that every team be made up of players from both religions so that they had something to support together. The turn around and bonding was dramatic. Harmonious Kicks (as we call it) has come to stay and is funded by Damiettea Peace Initiative.
What have been the projects biggest achievements?
We now have football teams in all of the communities that have experienced violence, as well as those that were part of the religious crisis last November. Working for Damietta Peace Initiative, we are now setting up Peace and Conciliation Teams (PACTs) in several neighborhoods where we meet members of the communities to discuss their concerns and issues. We have also set up Inter-religious Dialogue Committees in many areas who are all very active. Through our work in communities more people can engage in the decisions and issues that affect them and they now feel like that they have a stake in peaceful coexistence.
What's next?
This is only just the beginning. We still have a lot of work to do. Over the coming months we will extend the range of activities we have to offer the communities of Northern Nigeria. They will include:
- Organising sports clinics for young people
- Art exhibitions
- Talent hunt
- Reading competition
- Communal development projects