BUILDING BRIDGES RECONNECTING PEOPLE: STRENGTHENING PEACE AND SOCIAL COHESION IN CAMEROON
Years of conflict in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions have deeply fractured communities, disrupted education, and left many young people growing up in an environment shaped by fear, mistrust, and trauma. Schools that once served as safe spaces for learning and social development have been affected by closures, violence, and displacement, leaving thousands of students vulnerable to long-term emotional and social challenges. The Building Bridges-Reconnecting People project aims to restore hope and rebuild trust by empowering young people, teachers, and communities to become active participants in peacebuilding. By transforming schools into platforms for dialogue, healing, and collaboration, the project seeks to strengthen social cohesion and promote a culture of peaceful coexistence. Through youth engagement, peace education, and community dialogue, the initiative supports the development of practical conflict-resolution skills while encouraging empathy, mutual respect, and collective responsibility among students and educators.
The project is implemented through a strategic partnership between three experienced civil society organizations working in collaboration with regional education authorities. Green Partners Association (GPA) serves as the lead implementing partner in the Northwest Region. Since 2019, GPA has played a key role in humanitarian and education-focused initiatives aimed at supporting conflict-affected communities. The organization has trained teachers and facilitators in psychosocial support, peace education, and community resilience, helping schools respond to the needs of children affected by violence and displacement.
In the Southwest Region, the project is implemented by Lead Child Africa (LCA) and Good Hope Charity Organization (GHCC), organizations dedicated to child protection, youth empowerment, and educational support. Through its programs, LCA has supported vulnerable children, internally displaced people, and adolescent girls through education, skills training, and protection services.All organizations work closely with the Regional Delegations of Secondary Education, which facilitate coordination with target schools and support the integration of project activities within the education system.
This collaborative approach combines community trust, technical expertise, and institutional partnerships to ensure sustainable impact.
The Building Bridges – Reconnecting People project seeks to strengthen peace and social cohesion by empowering students and teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to address conflict constructively.
One of the project’s key goals is to promote peace education within schools by equipping teachers with practical tools to manage classroom conflicts, support traumatized students, and encourage dialogue among learners from diverse backgrounds. Another major objective is to empower youth as agents of peace. Through the establishment of 20 Inter-School Peace Clubs, students will be trained in mediation, non-violent communication, and leadership. These clubs provide safe spaces where young people can openly discuss community challenges while learning how to resolve conflicts peacefully.
The project also aims to encourage cultural understanding and reconciliation by organizing creative workshops where students express their experiences and aspirations through art, storytelling, and poetry. These activities help young people process trauma, celebrate shared identities, and promote unity across divided communities. Additionally, the initiative works to strengthen community engagement in peacebuilding. Students and teachers will participate in community dialogue sessions, sharing lessons learned from peace clubs and encouraging broader discussions around tolerance, cooperation, and reconciliation.
The project integrates several activities designed to create lasting change within schools and surrounding communities.
Teachers will receive specialized training in trauma-informed education and conflict-sensitive teaching approaches. This training strengthens their ability to support students affected by violence while fostering inclusive and respectful learning environments. Youth-led peace clubs will organize peer discussions, awareness campaigns, and community outreach activities that extend peace messages beyond school walls. By actively engaging students in these initiatives, the project encourages young people to take ownership of the peacebuilding process.
Arts-based workshops will also play an important role in the initiative. Through collaborative creative projects, students explore themes of reconciliation, identity, and hope, helping them transform painful experiences into constructive dialogue and shared understanding. The project will culminate in a regional reconciliation showcase, where students present artistic works and peace initiatives to their communities. This event highlights the voices of youth and reinforces positive narratives that promote unity and coexistence.
Ultimately, the Building Bridges – Reconnecting People project aims to nurture a generation of young leaders committed to dialogue, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution. By strengthening schools as centers of healing and collaboration, the initiative contributes to rebuilding trust and fostering long-term stability in Cameroon’s conflict-affected regions.