Peace Education

The peace education program is centered on democracy education, conflict resolution which focuses on the social-behavioral symptoms of conflict, training individuals to resolve inter-personal disputes through techniques of negotiation and (peer) mediation and raising awareness of human rights with the aim of engendering a commitment among participants to a vision of structural peace in which all individual members of the human ethic group and race can exercise their personal freedoms and be legally protected from violence, oppression and indignity  . Peacebuilding, on the other hand, is a more proactive approach that uses peace education as a means of creating a more stable and peaceful culture, thereby preventing violent incidents from occurring. Peace education is critical to creating a culture that reduces the need for peacemaking and peacekeeping by developing a comprehensive program that teaches people how to interact with others and avoid unnecessary aggression. It seeks to improve communication through skills such as listening, turn-taking, identifying needs, and separating facts from emotions. The program also conducts research on security, conflict, strategic and national issues affecting peace in the midlands province and in Zimbabwe at large. People will be educated on the principles of good governance as well as gender and conflict issues.

 

Active Citizenship

The active citizens program links civil society, community leaders and networks of young people in the midlands province and in Zimbabwe as a whole. The overarching aim is to deepen trust and understanding within and between Zimbabwe communities and beyond borders. Young participants gain various skills including cross-cultural communication and intercultural dialogue since the province has mixed cultures, and its effective role in community action. They are encouraged to play a bigger role in their communities by addressing social issues through volunteering and engaging with community influencers. The components of the program include capacity building, women and youth-led social action project, policy dialogues, developing networks and conducting interface meetings with responsible personals. It seeks to promote and encourage citizens and policy makers to engage and deliberate on pertinent issues prevailing in the local community, including especially vulnerable groups like the youth, women and the disabled to voice their concerns in development matters.

 

 

Women, Peace and Security Program

The program contributes towards gender mainstreaming, debate and policy development in the field of women, gender, peace and security and in so-doing enhances the dialogue around women’s effective participation in peace and security in the midlands province and between communities, protection in time of conflict and recognition in the post-conflict phase. It will also include men in the empowerment of women in all issues and activities of the country. Conflicts have devastating consequences, including in widening gaps between women and men. Women often have fewer resources to protect themselves and, with children, frequently make up the majority of displaced and refugee populations. Though women have been, and are, active agents in peace and reconciliation efforts at all levels, women and gender analysis are regularly excluded from peace-making processes and decisions.

At the grassroots level, women peacebuilders play integral roles in lessening violence, challenging and changing systems of injustice, educating for peace, and promoting human security in their communities every day. Midlands Peacebuilding and Community Development  Forum (MPCDF) believes that the exclusion of women, women’s rights and gender remains a key impediment to the attainment of sustainable peace and human security, and must not be ignored.  When women fully participate and control their destiny, they contribute to lasting development and reduce poverty in the process. The program seeks to promote gender equality and emancipate young women from the cycle of gender based violence, abuse of their sexual and reproductive health rights, exploitation and manipulation.

 

Free Expression

Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democracy and a fundamental right as enshrined in the Zimbabwean 2013 constitution through the Bill of Rights. Freedom of expression is also a fundamental human right enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Along with its corollaries of freedom of information and press freedom, freedom of expression serves as an enabler of all other rights. We promote the issues of information access and sharing freely for everyone without any intimidation. MPCDF also promote the use of new media techniques like citizen reporting and digital technology in promoting the right to information, freedom of expression, freedom of association, thought and communication among the young people of midlands. To grow into thoughtful, mature and informed adults, young people need the freedom to explore, learn, and question. But this freedom is often undermined by politicians, community leaders and school officials. Freedom of expression and information are pillars of a healthy democratic society and for social and economic growth, allowing for the free flow of ideas necessary for innovation and bolstering accountability and transparency.

Efforts to control speech and information are accelerating, by both governments and private actors in the form of censorship, restrictions on access, and violent acts directed against those whose views or queries are seen as somehow dangerous or wrong.  In Zimbabwe freedoms are partially curtailed. People are only free to enjoy internet freedoms but afterwards they will be in trouble with government secret agents and there is too much interference by the state and communication rights are violated. Expression of opinions is being turned into criminal acts and some are arrested after airing their views. We therefore believe that citizens who are free to express themselves enjoy full life and enhance democracy and development. We feel as the watchdog of democracy, civil society and human rights defenders should claim and defend internet freedoms as well as raise awareness on online liberties. Also by spreading timely information on violation of rights. To raise awareness for the fundamental role that the press plays in society and for the need to secure the security of media workers is also our goal.

Project Goals:

• Connecting media freedom groups of young people, and human rights defenders in midlands.

• Improve physical awareness, psychosocial care, and digital identity for media practitioners who are at risk provincially and nationally.