Youth, Peace and Security

The recognition of young people as a positive force in preventing and resolving conflict and building sustainable peace has gained significant momentum since the adoption of the United Nations Security Council resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security (YPS) on 9 December 2015. The historic resolution marked a fundamental shift in acknowledging the positive role young women and young men play in the maintenance of peace and security, and the importance of enabling their meaningful participation in decision-making at all levels.  Better Futures for Children’s YPS programming supports and responds to the the call by Resolution 2535 to ensure full, effective and meaningful participation of youth without discrimination of any kind. This includes any bias on the grounds of race, colour, sex, gender identity, language, socio-economic status, disability, religion or belief, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Such participation is key to advancing peacebuilding processes and objectives that take into account the needs of all segments of society.  At the center of our Youth, Peace and Security are approaches to meaningful youth inclusion throughout the analysis, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of peacebuilding programs and projects. Meaningful inclusion entails identifying the specific needs and potential of young men and women of diverse backgrounds in relation to sustaining peace.

Our YPS practice area builds on evidence and the increasing momentum to prioritize youth-inclusive and youth-sensitive peace and security programming, as a core element of more sustainable and long-lasting peacebuilding efforts. Due to a number of factors including unemployment, horizontal inequalities, climate change, limited access to education and skills based and work readiness interventions, including mobilization of youth by politicians, Kisumu County have experienced violent youth led conflicts, perennial street demonstration, destruction of property, which have affected businesses and reduced creation of employment opportunities by the private sector in Kisumu. Conflict prevention and resolution is more sustainable when young people’s perspectives are prioritized. Engaging young people and youth community leaders in peace efforts, decision-making and institutional reform processes provides an opportunity to constructively influence areas that directly impact their lives.

Better Futures for Children supports at risk and vulnerable youth in Kisumu to receive targeted training to build skills necessary to make a living and participate as leaders in community conflict mitigation, reconciliation, and peace-building activities. Youth are engaged in dialogue with key private sector leaders, government and faith leaders to promote reconciliation and peace. Better Futures for Children works donors, private sector, foundations, the media, national and county governments   create radio programs and listening clubs to strengthen community relationships and identify “connector projects,” such as music groups or sports teams, to strengthen relationships within the community. Better Futures for Children mainstreams gender and environmental sustainability in our sustainable peace interventions. We use the evidence generated through out studies (evidence to action), international best practices in youth led sustainable peace and conflict resolution education to inform our sustainable youth peace programs in Kisumu.