By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
In what can be described as self care therapy, community peace mediators, established by ASHH Foundation, in Ganjuwa and Bauchi Local Government Areas of Bauchi State have given themselves time to engage in a psychosocial activities in order to unwind from the rigours of entrenching peace in their communities through peace mediation.
Shortly after reviewing the community cases before them, during their September meeting, held at Central Primary School in Kafin Madaki, Ganjuwa LGA, and Technical Secondary School in Miri, Bauchi LGA, the peace mediators, whose composition is over 70 percent made of women, took to the play grounds and treated themselves to folklore songs and dances popularly known in Hausa land as “Gada”.
It is instructive to note that women made up 73 percent of the Peace Mediators, with men accounting for 27 percent, aligning strongly with the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, which emphasizes the vital role of women’s participation in peacebuilding processes. This highlights the mediators’ commitment to fostering gender inclusion while promoting harmony within their communities.
Daily Chronicle observed the visible excitement, joy and happiness on the faces of the women members of the mediators while they were having fun.
Fatima Abdullahi, one of the mediators, expressed her appreciation, stating, “This is exactly what we needed. We are always helping others find peace, but we often forget to nurture ourselves. This self-care session is a wonderful reminder that taking care of ourselves is essential to our work.”
Another mediator, Aisha Lawal, joyfully said, “I am so grateful for the exercise today. I can already feel the relief from the stress I have been carrying. It is a wonderful way to recharge and continue with our important work of peace building and conflict mitigation in our communities”.
Earlier before engaging into the exercise, the peace mediators had reviewed the major cases before them.
Amongst the cases discussed were domestic violence and neglect, which are on the rise due to economic hardship, as many families struggle to meet basic obligations. This often leads to tensions that result in domestic violence and the neglect of family responsibilities.
Towards addressing such domestic challenges, the mediators have adopted strategies focused on continuous community enlightenment and sensitization.
According to the mediators, the goal is to consistently educate members of the community on the importance of fulfilling family obligations and maintaining peace, despite economic challenges.
They unanimously emphasized the need for families to work together and avoid letting financial challenges lead to conflict.
The Peace Mediators program is an activity that is being funded by Women for Women International (WFWI).