Problem
Conflict and protracted crisis affects over 2 billion people globally, and over 600 million young people live in fragile and conflict affected communities. In conflict, post-conflict, and violence-affected areas,
young people face challenges of discrimination, restricted livelihoods opportunities, and lack of access to safe spaces, hindering their ability to thrive and contribute to long-term development and peace.
Catalysing Strategy
Dealing with the root causes and effects of conflict will require a multi-layered, long term and sustainable approach. In Place of War believes that the arts is a powerful tool for everyday peacebuilding
in conflict affected communities. Through our research and practice we have witnessed how the arts have been utilized by communities as a response to violence. The arts are uniquely positioned to
enable people to re-imagine their futures by providing pathways for social cohesion, improving livelihoods and protecting human rights.
Therefore, youth led local arts organisations should be adequately resourced and nurtured to strengthen the implementation of community strategies for peacebuilding and to ensure that no one is left
behind. To achieve this, local, national and international stakeholders should create an enabling environment to build sustainable peace and community development. Thus, there is a need for bottom
up approaches to be supported by donors and policy makers.
Strategies
STRATEGY 1: SUPPORT CHANGE-MAKERS
Young change-makers in the arts are uniquely positioned to create sustainable, resilient, and creative solutions to peace-building, positive social change, and sustainable development for communities in or rebuilding from conflict.
STRATEGY 2: ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS
IPOW researches the role of grassroots arts in sites of conflict and advocates for development actors to adopt arts-based SDG initiatives in which grassroots youth led arts initiatives are central to development and peacebuilding programmes.
STRATEGY 3: PROVIDE SAFE SPACES
AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Young people in conflict affected communities have access to safe spaces and educational and
entrepreneurial programmes to help improve livelihoods.
STRATEGY 4: PROVIDE PLATFORMS TO AMPLIFY VOICES
Young people in conflict affected communities tell their stories and change perceptions using art as the mechanism to engage wider audiences.
Impact
Reduced violence and division / Increased prosperity, economic development & job creation / Greater social cohesion and equality / Better life outcomes for vulnerable youth.
Our Vision
Communities previously in conflict are safe, prosperous, and peaceful.
