Because of its peaceful reputation, Ghana has
become home to many refugees forced out of their native countries by violence and corruption. Here, a large number of non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations include peace-building amongst their organizations’ core activities. As a development worker, I have found myself
becoming increasingly critical of organizations that identify peace-building as an objective. At times, it seems like peace-building efforts only manifest themselves within the walls of conferences, forums and academic institutions. Where is the groundwork? How are these conversations translating into action?
to engage in small businesses, while others focus on building women’s leadership capacity. Then Gertrude casually added, “We also provide
sanitary towels for women in the camps.” Confusion took hold of the group. “Like for times when they are menstruating,” she added. Yes, we understood that part... but the part about sanitary pads as a peace- building tool was a little... confusing. It had never occurred to me that something so
simple, so practical and yet so necessary could fall under “peace-building efforts.” Until that point, peace- building to me was about finding ways to rebuild nations ravaged by violence. It was about finding ways to bring war criminals, terrorists and corrupt politicians to justice. It was about rebuilding infrastructure and social welfare. It was about rehabilitating child soldiers and healing the damaged psyche of a nation. My understanding of peace-building was narrowly focused on these larger, loftier goals. The grandeur of these larger goals blinded me to the true essence of peace-building: addressing problems step by step, little by little. I innately understood how ABANTU’s sanitary
Photo: Anice Wong
Well, recently I was introduced to a strategy in peace-building that took me by surprise. ABANTU for Development, a women’s rights
organization I am working with in Ghana, recently gave a presentation to potential volunteers. The talk covered its thematic areas - gender and governance, climate change and, you guessed it, peace-building and security. Eventually someone asked, “What sort of work does your organization do under its peace- building theme?” My colleague Gertrude explained that ABANTU is involved with peace-building initiatives on two fronts: through advocacy, and on the ground. Their advocacy focuses on implementing UN Resolutions 1325 and 1820, which call for greater inclusion of women in peace-building and security efforts in post-conflict areas. On the ground, ABANTU is involved with capacity-building projects for women in the Buduburam refugee camp. Some of these initiatives provide women with skills and seed money
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napkin initiative was related to peace-building. It dragged me from the theoretical to the personal; from the cerebral to the emotional. Of course peace-building necessitates the political and physical rebuilding of a nation, but this begins with the rebuilding of people. The women in the Buduburam camp were not only victims of violence and displacement, they had also been stripped of their right to human dignity and well-being. Making sanitary napkins available to these women gives them a degree of comfort and control over their lives. Efforts can be made to develop a nation’s democracy and promote good governance; though, at the end of the day, people need to be able to take care of their basic needs. I guess it is fair to say that this was one of many
“ah ha” moments I have experienced while working in Ghana. We should be mindful that sometimes what we need to do is take the first step, however small that step may seem to be.
For more information about ABANTU for Development, visit their website at
www.abantu-rowa.org .
Gabrielle Zilkha volunteered in Accra, Ghana with
Canadian Crossroads International for five months in Zolo. She is passionate about social justice and international development, focusing primarily on gender equity and HIV/AIDS.
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