5) Description of initiative: Nagarik Aawaz initiated Displaced Youth Volunteer Programme in 2001. So far 109 youth from five batches have graduated successfully and five of them is working as a peace ambassador in organizations spread throughout Nepal. The youths engaged in the program have made successful transition from a place of anger and revenge to a commitment for peace and development. Building on the cumulative success of Displaced Youth Volunteer Programme in the past five years two community based peace centers run by the graduate Displaced Youth Volunteers will be established. These peace centers will be the focal point for the mobilization of the conflict affected displaced youths providing them with direct services (counseling and referral), a learning space (training and interactive forums) and a resource center. Nagarik Aawaz programme team will lend the backstopping support. Nagarik Aawaz team will provide them the necessary capability building trainings to develop them as a capable human resource. This will ensure the successful running of the peace centers on a daily basis, while also ensuring ongoing work for graduate youths who have the necessary skills and leadership qualities, and have a demonstrated commitment for peace. The successful running of these centers will enable youths to be engaged in productive work but importantly the peace centers will model long term peace building work in the communities. The primary beneficiaries and the target groups is the displaced youth in particular and community at large.

6) Description of innovation: Peace buildings activities in Nepal are mostly run by the CBOs and NGOs with funding support from national and international organizations and government. The displaced youth led and run peace centers will bring a new dimension in the communities to reconcile and rehabilitate the displaced families in particular, and build awareness in the communities regarding peace at large. Youth ambassadors are the direct survivors of 11 year long armed conflict. They not only become main actors in peace building but also will help set example for other youths to engage productively for the overall development of Nepal.

7) Delivery model: Peace centers will provide neutral space, healing and learning for the armed militia groups of the past and the rest of the civil society. Displaced youth will be trained to provide Para counseling with support from peace centers. With the peace centers as a base youth will undertake community awareness, preparedness and peace building initiatives (trainings, street drama, peace vigils, peace kitchen, interaction etc) to reach to the larger populations.

8) Key operational partnerships: NA will directly supervise and play a facilitation role to make a transition plan of the youth peace centers initially for • legal registration • necessary ongoing capability building training • networking with district level organizations and donors NA will play a facilitating role to link up the youth peace centers with the organizations that have a close contact with NA as well as local level government and non government services.

9) Financial model: Owing to the both professional and financial backstopping support from Nagarik Aawaz during the initial months the community peace centers can be well grounded. Nagarik Aawaz will also enable linkages with relevant organization.

          • Costs as percentage of income: 9

          • Financing: The youths have already taken initiatives to fund raise in the given cultural/traditional reality of Nepal. So far they have raised Nepali Rupees 33,521 which is equivalent to US$ 521. Once the Peace centers are fully operated youths will organize different fund generating activities. Nagarik Aawaz will also enable linkages with relevant organization for the sustainability of fund.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: • It won Ashoka/Changemakers Innovation Award 2005 for “How to Build a More Ethical Society” Competition from 11 top finalists, selected from a field of 79 competition entries from 32 countries. • All the graduate youths evaluated the programme highly; expressing the programme helped them tremendously in overcoming the feeling of desperation and revenge; improving their health, behavior and confidence; and stabilizing them emotionally, with an increased understanding of peace building and development. All the graduates express commitment for peace in whatever work they are involved. 109 youth affiliates so far, in a total of 5 batches. Presently 10 youths are taking initiative for the community peace centers.

          • Number of clients in past year: Last year 40 displaced youths have benefited from Nagarik Aawaz.

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Start Up stage.

          • Expansion plan: The two youth peace centers will be the pilot venture program. Nagarik Aawaz will support and monitor these peace centers and its activities. With continuous evaluation of its impact in the communities in coming three years Nagarik Aawaz believes that the concept can be replicated in other district which was heavily affected by 11 years long armed conflict.

12) Origin of the initiative: Ms. Rita Thapa, Ashoka an fellow is the leading person behind the development of Nagarik Aawaz and displaced youth Volunteer Program. With the cumulative success of Displaced youth volunteer program the concept of community based peace centers has emerged. Nagarik Aawaz's activities/ initiative are grounded in its practice and process of doing in depth and long term peace work.

Contact Information:
Bikram  Bajracharya
Program Officer
Nagarik Aawaz(NA)
(NGO)
GPO Box 9041, Kathmandu
Nepal
Tel: 977-1-5536048,977-1-5553809
Fax: 977-1-5536048
Email: naawaz@ntc.net.np
Website: www.nagarikaawaz.org.np