The aims of the Association for Peace Activities and Community Development (APADEC) are to encourage local people to actively participate in peacebuilding and the sustainable development of their own communities and to work towards solutions to their problems. Through a range of activities and projects, APADEC creates a space for dialogue between ethnic communities in an area that has long been torn apart by war and violence. It also works to protect human rights and fight poverty and hunger, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, empower women and youth and combat environmental degradation.
The association carries out a large number of different projects and does so largely with its own funds: For example, violent crimes are documented and reported, and needs assessments of internally displaced persons, refugees and returnees are carried out. Girls and women who have been victims of rape receive counselling and medical care.
The association conducts peacebuilding workshops for young people. Women and girls are empowered and encouraged to work on peacebuilding initiatives. Women and girls from four conflict communities hold talks on peace and reconciliation and pass on the results to their families. Young choir singers from different churches of hostile ethnic groups organise religious concerts.
Children of displaced persons, war orphans and children who have joined armed militias play football together and then reflect on peaceful coexistence. Internally displaced persons are accompanied in vocational training. The focus is on helping them to help themselves. For example, there is support in the bureaucratic process of setting up businesses and agricultural cooperatives.
The association also works to protect the forests and wild animals by demarcating a nature reserve and organising awareness-raising events for the protection of elephants.
The association is largely financed from its own resources and carries out its extensive project work almost exclusively on a voluntary basis.
Information how to vote here: Award of the Donors
Proposed by Jürgen Wolff / Peace Tandem
