IKV Pax Christi and Seeds of Peace Africa (SOPA) in cooperation with the Dutch Catholic Sports Federation (NKS) have organised a series of trainings on Conflict transformation & Sports in Kuron, Sudan (from March 15th till March 23rd ) and Kotido, Uganda (from March 27th till April 4th ). Both trainings were a continuation of the training of coordinators and peace & sports facilitators which was held in Turkana land, Kakuma (January, February 2007).

 

In Kuron peace and sports leaders were drawn from local communities through partner organisations namely: Kuron Peace Village, Pibor Development Association, the Catholic Diocese of Torit (DOT). Youth warriors among others were trained in conflict transformation and how to use sports as a means for relation building between different communities. Role plays, dances and peace songs are used as well to spread a message of peace.

 

The training in Kuron was a prelude to a similar one which was held in Kotido (April 2007), Uganda and was organised for partner organisations from Kenya, Uganda and Sudan namely: Lokichoggio Oropoi Kakuma Development Organisation (LOKADO), DOT Youth programme, and Kotido Peace Initiative (KOPEIN). The trainings were co-ordinated by Seeds of Peace Africa (SOPA) International, Dutch Catholic Sports Federation (NKS) and IKV Pax Christi.

 

 

In future Kuron Peace Village will become a centre for training and reconciliation for pastoralist communities who are engaged in cattle raiding both inside Sudan and neighbouring countries. Just like the other organisations working together in the consortium (LOKADO, KOPEIN, DOT, PDA) who also focus on reconciliation and conflict transformation within other neighbouring communities such as Turkana, Jie, Toposa, Didinga, Murle and cross border.