Contributors: Gloria Paah, Victoria Hagalstine, Luiwammagh Zethan, Gwet Bamshak Ayuba, Naandong Lannap Activity supported by Kerk in Actie In a bold move to strengthen peace efforts at the grassroots level, TEKAN Peace Desk organized a three-day Conflict Monitoring and Transformation Workshopacross Mangu, Bokkos, and Zango Kataf Local Government Areas. The training, held between November 19th – 21st, 2024, for Bokkos and Zango Kataf LGAs and November 25th – 27th, 2024, for Mangu LGA, brought together 90 community influencers, leaders, women, and youth leaders from diverse backgrounds to explore sustainable peacebuilding techniques. The primary objective of the workshop was to provide participants with the necessary skills to understand conflict, analyze its root causes, and develop effective strategies for conflict resolution. Through interactive and engaging methods such as role-plays, group discussions, and presentations, facilitators ensured that participants were not only informed but actively engaged in the learning process. A major focus of the workshop was conflict monitoring, an essential tool in preventing violence and fostering peace. Participants were introduced to conflict dynamics and monitoring techniques, enabling them to identify early warning signs and take proactive measures in addressing community conflicts. With 30 participants from each LGA, the workshop provided a platform for experience-sharing and collaborative learning. Attendees demonstrated a clear understanding of conflict monitoring and its role in preventing conflict escalation. Many expressed a renewed commitment to applying the skills acquired to foster peace within their communities. The success of this workshop underscores TEKAN Peace Desk’s unwavering dedication to empowering local leaders as agents of peace. By equipping community influencers with practical conflict resolution skills, the initiative contributes significantly to sustainable peace and stability in Plateau and Kaduna States. This training marks another milestone in the organization’s efforts to bridge divides, strengthen social cohesion, and promote long-term conflict transformation in communities prone to unrest. As these newly trained leaders return to their respective communities, they carry with them a renewed vision for peace and the practical tools to make it a reality.

Contributors:  Gloria Paah, Nandom Lere, Garos Chuwang,  Naandong Lannap, Christopher Lekuk, Joshua Philemon, Gwet Bamshak Ayuba, Abigail Magaji Activity supported by Kerk in Actie The conflict between farmers and herders has claimed numerous lives, destroyed properties, and displaced many. Many young lives have been forever changed by the trauma of loss and displacement. In the aftermath of violent conflicts, the physical wounds may heal, but the emotional scars often linger. The road to recovery after a violent conflict can be long and arduous. The organization conducted a three-day Children and Adolescent Trauma Healing Workshop for 100 adolescent survivors and 150 children survivors of violent conflict in Mangu and Bokkos LGAs of Plateau State from 16th-18th December 2024. The workshop aimed to help the children and adolescents understand that losing people and things is a part of life, that negative events do not define their value, and that forgiveness is essential for their healing. One participant, Umusa, embodied the transformation that took place during the workshop. Overcome with emotion, she shared her story of loss and anger, confessing that she would never forgive the Fulani Militia for killing her father. However, as the workshop progressed, Umusa began to understand the concept of forgiveness and its role in healing. By the end of the workshop, she stood up, her eyes shining with newfound hope, and declared, “God has a plan for us all.” Umusa’s story is a testament to the power of trauma healing and the resilience of the human spirit. Another participant, Nanbot, opened up about her painful experience. She shared how her neighbor, a tenant in her father’s house, had killed her mother and threatened to kill her elder brother. The mere mention of the perpetrator’s name still provoked intense emotions in Nanbot. With tears in her eyes, she asked, “How can I ever forgive this person?” The facilitators gently guided her towards understanding that forgiveness is for her healing, not for the perpetrator. Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in interactive sessions, group work, and sharing, gradually opening up and confronting their emotions. The workshop’s impact was palpable. Participants demonstrated improved emotional regulation, forgiveness, and resilience. They gained confidence, self-awareness, and a renewed sense of purpose. As one participant noted, “I learned that I am not alone and that my emotions are valid.” The success of this workshop underscores the importance of addressing the emotional and psychological needs of conflict survivors. As TEKAN Peace Desk continues to provide support and follow-up sessions, we remain committed to empowering these young survivors to rebuild their lives, restore their dignity, and rediscover hope. Join us in promoting healing, resilience, and peace-building in Plateau State. Together, we can make a difference.

Contributors: John Abednego, Saratu Magaji, Joshua Philemon, Emmanuel Manji Moses, Margaret Lapan Vwamhi Activity supported by Kerk in Actie The conflict between farmers and herders has claimed numerous lives, destroyed properties, and displaced many. Amidst this chaos, TEKAN Peace Desk has worked tirelessly to provide psycho-social support to the affected communities. The organization conducted a three-day Trauma Healing Workshop for 100 survivors of violent conflict in Bokkos and Mangu LGAs of Plateau State and 50 survivors of violent conflict in Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State. The workshop was carried out from 24th – 26th September 2024 in Mangu and Bokkos LGAs and from 22nd – 24th October 2024 in Zango Kataf LGA. The workshop aimed to help participants acknowledge that there is hope after their horrific experiences and that healing, though may take time, is possible. The facilitators guided the participants through a journey of self-discovery, helping them to understand that forgiveness is essential for their healing. Participants were able to share their traumatic experiences. The stories shared were mostly centered on hurt, disappointments, anger, pain, and guilt. It was a poignant moment as participants each shared their stories, with some unable to control their emotions. Esther Ishaya recounted how her mother was killed on December 24, 2023, and her father on December 25, 2025, by the attackers. She felt like there was no reason to live anymore. Stephen shared a similar story of loss, recounting how the attackers killed his loved one on December 24, 2023, leaving him with no hope in love. Benedict Yohanna’s husband was killed while they were running from the attackers, and they lost all their properties. Matthew Zachariah’s brother was also killed by the attackers. Mama Julia’s brother and parents were killed, and their properties were destroyed. Mama Rahila took her mother to the hospital and returned to find that the attackers had killed her two brothers, one was shot and the other burned inside his car. Dorcas’s brothers were killed by the attackers in December 2023. Mama Esther Simon lived with the bitter memory of her two children killed and one had his leg amputated from a gunshot wound. During the workshop, participants began to realize that forgiveness is essential for their healing. During the “Gathering on Forgiveness” session, one participant stood up and declared that she had decided to forgive her in-law who had caused her so much grief. Another participant said she had decided to forgive the killers of her brother-in-law. A participant who had earlier expressed anger towards the Fulani people declared that he had forgiven them and would always respond to their greetings, which he had not done previously. Two participants, Mr. Solomon David (widower) and Mrs. Nandi Tongpan (widow), indicated interest in marrying each other, a sign of the new beginnings that the workshop had inspired. The success of the workshop underscores the importance of addressing the emotional and psychological needs of survivors of violent conflict. TEKAN Peace Desk remains committed to supporting these survivors, providing them with the tools they need to rebuild their lives.