Forest Whitaker shares progress on peace, development initiative in Athlone

The five-year programme, which is currently being rolled out in the Cape Flats in partnership with BNP Paribas Group South Africa, and local consumer finance business RCS, seeks to bring change in areas deeply affected by gang violence.

Empowering agents of change

The mission of the WPDI, which has established a community learning centre in Athlone, is to empower young men and women living in vulnerable areas to become leaders, peacemakers and entrepreneurs in their communities and to bring about peace and stability. The programme has been successfully rolled out in communities impacted by conflict in other parts of the word, namely; South Sudan, Uganda, the United States and Mexico. Speaking at the event, Whitaker said the programme will roll out in the same way in Cape Town.

“The success of the WPDI Youth Peacemaker Network lies in the trust that the programme creates in the community. The youth we train are from the community and work for it. Our programme becomes what they make of it. Our approach will be the same on the Cape Flats, where we will be providing young women and men with tools and resources that they can put to use in their daily lives,” said Whitaker.

Over the past three months, 45 young people from areas most affected by gang violence in Cape Town were chosen based on their personal experience and capability to act as agents of change in their communities. This group of young people, refered to as ‘Trainers of Trainees’, are in the process of educating 360 young people from communities across Cape Town to become social development ambassadors by learning how to engage with residents to mediate conflicts and foster peace.

Ambassadors for peace

Sesethu Tyali, a young woman from Khayelitsha who is now a trainer of trainees in the WPDI programme, is honoured to be an ambassador for peace. “I’m from a community impacted by violence, and to be selected as an agent of change, and someone that my community can look to, is exciting. The WPDI equips us with skills that include peacekeeping and conflict resolution. This is important as we share the message within our community that there is an alternative to joining gangs.”

Programme director of the WPDI Dr Chance Chagunda emphasised the need for this programme and what it can do for the community right now: “The young people on the Cape Flats face violence every day and when you are in these conditions all the time it’s almost impossible to change without support.”

Addressing inequality

Antoine Sire, head of engagement at BNP Paribas, believes that the current situation in many countries around the world illustrates that concerns surrounding inequality and regional issues are widely shared. “Whether in emerging countries or developed countries, young people, women and populations in disadvantaged areas and regions do not all enjoy the place in society they deserve. This is why BNP Paribas has been working for many years on youth inclusion to ensure that young people have access to what they need to put their ideas into action.”

Over the next three years, the programme will help empower approximately 2,400 young people to become leaders and champions to address problems in their schools and communities.