Global Changemakers

Read about Gilmore, a Changemaker from Zimbabwe and his upcoming CAP!

WE ALL HAVE A COMMON LANGUAGE!!

Attending the Global Youth Summit 2009, was an eye-opening experience, it helped me gain a better understanding of the world, its people and how it operates. As an individual who is actively involved in the arts, i was inspired by the spirit that most of the participants had from diverse backgrounds and countries. I strongly believe that there is no better language to communicate to each other than the ART language, despite our differences. Having been blessed with the arts, Globally, it is our duty as individuals from different societies to share our experiences and most importantly to exchange cultures and norms through tools that are already influential upon us, as a people of the world.

The arts allow us to address negative perceptions, experiences, stereotypes and prejudices in an entertaining, yet non-violent manner. Through working with young people from extremely different backgrounds, i have come to a realization that the “ARTS” are the common language that is spoken and embraced across the world. They are the very same motion that brings us together, us, the people of the world.

Emmanuel Nkomo, the Jembe player from Peace of Art

Peace of Art is an arts conflict resolution and peace making, Community Action Project. The initiative involves 30 young artists from across Zimbabwe in particular genres, namely Theater, dance, Music, Fashion, Visual Art and Literature. As much as it was difficult to select the 30 from a numerous guild, the selection criteria included youths with both the talent and the passion for breaking barriers, using their capabilities. With the guild, we do workshops on general issues that bring about conflicts in our day to day living. I strongly believe that for one to become a terrorist, it would have steamed from a family set up. Therefore, Peace of Art is the first initiative in Zimbabwe, that involves performance art and young people in reconciliation and healing within a nation that is still recovering from post-conflicts. In most cases, the youths are shun aside when it comes to reconciliation, healing, cultural exchange and inter-cultural dialogue, yet they are the very same individuals affected by the outcomes. This initiative involves youths between the ages of 13 – 25, in using the arts not only for entertainment, but to educate, inform and consciontise the public to guide against trivail issues that leads to conflicts, family disintegrations, tribalism, racism and apathy. Peace of Art aims to promote social values, respect, a culture of embracement and tolerance development.

Tori Taylor, Shane Pullen and Jorelle Taylor, the 3 Dancers that performed at the Harare Event

The Cap involves public advocacy, which involves going into schools and talking about the importance of resolving conflicts and the role of the arts in conflict resolution. Since its inception, the project has addressed 15 schools from different societies from across Zimbabwe. Besides going into communities, Peace of Art has also taken advantage of the media which includes, Internet, local newspapers, television and radio stations to promote peace making. The CAP has also managed to partner with organizations specializing in cultural relations and conflict resolutions, namely the Alliance Francaise and the Neighbors Global Connections. During the implementation, the 30 peace makers get to work on group collaborated productions that demonstrates conflict resolution. They are split into different genre diverse groups, the main point being to appreciate and learn from each others different individualities. As a youth led initiative, Peace of Art also aims to participate in local, continental or global events, giving the participants an opportunity to network with people from different backgrounds, yet portraying peace making through performances.

Girls College – One of the schools that Peace of Art works with

The challenge to us as the rest of the world is “IF ARTIST CAN COME TOGETHER FOR THE LOVE OF “ART” , WHY CAN’T WE AS THE REST OF THE WORLD, PUT OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND IMPULSE TOWARDS ONE COMMON THING THAT WE ARE ALL CRYING OUT FOR, “WORLD PEACE”.

Participants discussing the way forward as a group

It will only take you and i to realize that, language,cultural, tribal, and racial differences are not the reason we should fight, but they only make this world colourfull. If we all realize that, they will be no reason for violent, would they? Embracement of each others unique identity and diversity will help promote cultural development, yet breaking barriers, creating a common language!!!

Regards,

Gilmore