To promote social cohesion: HWPL stages peace walk, cleans streets in Yaounde.

The peace walk, which commemorated the 11th Annual World Peace Day, was under the theme: “Communication for global citizenship of reconciliation and tolerance”.

According to the organisers, the initiative was aimed at sensitising the Yaounde denizens on the need to promote a culture of peace and to raise awareness to the public authorities on the consolidation of peaceful and harmonious living together.

This comes within the context of crises facing the country, notably, the socio-political upheavals which have morphed into an armed conflict in the North West and South West regions as well as the Boko Haram incursions in the Far North. 

“Through the march, we can make people aware of the importance of peace,” the HWPL Branch Manager, Eunice Lee, said. 

She added that: “The purpose for this peace walk is for people to realise and be aware of what we do as a pointer for peace”. 

By raising the voice of the youth through street march, she further explained that they intend to establish and make peace sustainable. 

“We do peace education... when children learn about the importance of peace and when they become leaders of the society, they will practice this peace we are craving for. They could spread the spirit of peace together to all people,” the HWPL Branch Manager explained.

Cleaning streets of Yaounde

According to the HWPL official, the peace campaign, which saw the participants clean up the streets of the city centre, was also to raise awareness on the need for improving the cleanliness of the environment. 

“We also cleaned the streets to make people realise they also need to join this kind of activities to achieve sustainable environment and peace,” she said, adding that: “Cleaning is actually a critical issue in Cameroon, especially Yaounde. So, we thought this would be a way to make people realise it is important to keep the environment clean”.

Enter CNYC SG

On his part, the Secretary General of CNYC, Cedric Mesambe, said the body was established with the assignment to promote youth, peace and security.

In line with this, he mentioned that they are obliged to engage in all peace initiatives.  

“Peace is a key aspect for the development of a country and that is why whenever there is a peace initiative or peace action, the CNYC feels concerned,” Mesambe stated. 

He added that: “The youth in Cameroon represent about 70% of the population and so we are an important segment for the peace actions, consolidation and development of the country”. 

It is worth noting that CNYC and HWPL signed a partnership last February to work together towards achieving peace in Cameroon.

What is HWPL about?

HWPL is a global peace NGO founded for global peace and cessation of war.

Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, HWPL is associated with the UN Department of Global Communications, DGC, and in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC. 

In keeping with the spirit of the Declaration of World Peace, the not-for-profit organisation aims to achieve world peace through the heavenly culture and restore the global community with light through the implementation of peace activities across the world.

With partner groups such as the International Women’s Peace Group, IWPG, and its affiliate group, the International Peace Youth Group, IPYG, HWPL is leading an international peace movement with leaders in all walks of life and beyond national, cultural, or ideological boundaries.

It also seeks to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals by spreading a culture of peace through various means such as forums, education, volunteer work, and campaigns.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No3127 of Friday May 31, 2024