Children and

Young People’s

Children and Young People’s

This Peace Album is made on the initiative of children and young people who are members of Peace Clubs in Northern Uganda.

The research and evaluation on children’s participation in armed confl ict, post confl ict and peace building started in November 2006. Children and young people in four countries, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Guatemala, Nepal and Uganda, were invited to document their situation and experiences and to refl ect upon them. Members of the peace clubs in Uganda had already started to write their stories, songs and poems; to draw what they had witnessed; and to collect newspaper clippings about the violent confl ict and peace initiatives in their country. They wanted to make peace albums, and the peace club members received notebooks for this purpose. Material from the peace clubs was then collected in a Peace Album for Uganda.

The idea of a Peace Album was shared with children and young people taking part in the research and evaluation on children’s participation in the three other countries. They liked the idea and wanted to make their peace albums as well. This global peace album is a collection of writings and drawings from children and young people in the four countries.

Warm thanks go to all the children and young people from the four countries for their exceptional contributions to Children and young people’s Peace Album. A special thank goes to the members of the Peace Clubs in Northern Uganda for their valuable initiative. Warm thanks also go to the adults, facilita-tors of the peace and child clubs and groups, members of country evaluation teams and the global research team, for their support and encouragement to the children and young people in their efforts to make this album.

Oslo, January 2009Annette Giertsen

Save the Children Norway

Foreword

This project has been fi nanced by support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

ISBN: 978-82-7481-176-8

© 2008 Save the Children Norway

Authors: Children and young people in peace clubs and associations, child clubs and groups in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Guatemala, Nepal and Uganda Graphic design: Amund Lie Nitter

Published by: Save the Children NorwayStorgt 38, 0182 Oslo, NorwayPhone: +47 22 99 09 00Fax: +47 22 99 08 60Internet: www.reddbarna.no/chp

www.reddbarna.no/default.asp?V_ITEM_ID=19028E-mail: post@reddbarna.no

Contents:

1. Peace p 4

- Violence and Armed Conflict p 9

- From Conflict to Peace p 22

- Peace Building p 32

- Post Conflict p 48

- Children’s Rights p 5

Young male, Sir Samuel Baker Secondary School4 5

7

A SONG

2005, the 28th day in the month of February

At 4:30 pm, fi ghting started in Ganeshpur.

Ganeshpur Chowk in mahammadpur VDC

Witnessed a nasty armed fi ght for 3 hours continuous

An angry devastation of human lives.

Government Fighters came in from one side

And from the other side came in the rebel armed

groups—more clever ones

Three hundred people were injured they said, and 50-

60 were killed.

We children were terrifi ed to death, many extremely

traumatized

So shaken and sick that they needed the psychosocial

counseling treatment later.

But is not it true that

In all these fi ghting always,

Whœ ver dies from whichever side

Are all children of Mother Nepal?

Is not it true that,

The Motherland always suffers the most

With the pain of losing her children

She must be weeping in despair

Thinking helplessly….

Why do her children are in armed fi ghting

Why do they enjoy killing each other?

Violence and

Armed Conflict

WAR War, that blight over our land, picks on

the best of our youth: they f lee, or they perish.

Swift crows that brought good cheer are

new harbingers of widowhood. Cherished

relations are lost. Clear rivers rilecrimson with blood. Thousand souls

together cry, whimper awayfrom deathly War's closing calls.

Once glad faces wear constant gloom.

Green of the hills and blanket of snow

over mountains are splashed with red.

Blood. Blessed women's adornments f low

with the melt that washes red saris white.

Tears once of joy now turn to sorrow

in orphaned, infant eyes at the sight

they see—a razed today, tomorrow!

A girl, Bardia, Nepal

9

THE FEAR IN MY HEART

This reality is only a few years old: peace has b� n absent

from our roads and neighborh� ds, our vi� ages and our

country, as if peace has wilted like a flower that has died

before its time. We used to hear that our is a country of

perpetual peace, a place where the lamp of peace burns

bright. But it is thick darkne� now which covers the land.

Has peace disa� eared like a dazed wanderer who takes a

wrong turn in a m� nle� night in a treacherous forest? We

are a� similarly lost and wandering in a maze built with

wa� s of darkne� .

We leave in the morning to go to sch� l, but every moment

we wonder if we wi� sti� be alive to return home safely in

the evening. What if we are forced to ca� y socket-bombs,

dynamite sticks and guns in our satchels in which we should

be ca� ying pens and b� ks? What if there is a sh� t-out

at the sch� l? Or, what if we get abducted? Teachers and

students are being abducted left and right everyday. The

sch� l building is mute as stone, with nobody capable of

teaching, and nobody there to study.

A� able-bodied people of the vi� age have b� n

abducted: only sma� children and the elderly remain. Who

wi� take the children to the sch� l? Who wi� l� k after

the elderly? Everyday we hear more news of death—those

young men and women who were abducted are being ki� ed in

combat. They were the su� ort on which the children and the

elderly depended for survival. If young men and women of

our vi� ages die like a thousand strong tr� s caught in a

wildfire fed by piles of gunpowder, how wi� tender

saplings find the su� ort they n� d to survive? Politicians climb ta� podiums to lecture us

about how Nepal is a zone of peace, how this is the

land of Bu� ha. They clap and sing while they release

hundreds of white doves to bring peace. But the same

politicians push the country d� per into violence by

picking up guns to fight for peace, by taking the path

of te� or to bring change. The same people never get

tired of saying that children are the future, that

children are like fragile flowers. They say children

are like the flame of a candle left to face the wind.

What a farce!

Who comes around to ask us how hard it is to live

the life of a child in our neighborh� ds and our

vi� ages? We have to wo� y constantly to stay alive.

We wo� y about being orphaned, about being left

destitute and alone. I wo� y about my future, because

it l� ks dark and te� ifying, like the long snaking

shadows cast by weaponed people in uniform—be they the

Maoists, or the Army.

Surakshya Wagle (Girl)Akala CC, Aanbu, Tanahun

10 11

CHILDREN CALLING DURING A WARWho wants to hear me screamand say that I am but a child?I know nobody wants to knowanything about me! I am lost!

I have been praying for agesfor a new age of peace!But my small voice is lostin the chaos of this battlef ield.

I am orphaned: father, motherlost from my side forever.No, there is no peace in Nepal,where I live limbless and hurt.

What about children who diedbecause of the cruel f ighting?They will forever paint red Nepal’s name as a land of war. A Nepali has forgotten the face ofanother Nepali, so thick has thiswar been: now ridicule is ours as therace of once brave and hardy warriors.

A thousand pleas I have made tomy brothers—stop this war! Please!Stay the bloodbath, for what peoplewe once were, what we will again be!(Girl, Udayapur, Nepal)

WITHOUT THE SALT OF COMFORT

What horror this life can be—dull,

dry, without the salt of comfort.

Remember how we laughed

through those alive, carefree days of

childish unfenced play: no thirsty

need, no barb of want puncturing

our common skin. Now terror has

its talon wrapped around hearts

that remember those days, nights

when mother’s love was a green

and secure shade. Today that

world is upturned, upset: hell,

it seems, is the germ of life. Hell:

oppressive shroud of loneliness

and crippling insignifi cance.

What horror life is—without warm

love, mutual respect, sympathy.

A face I remember for its bright lit smile

has lost its light. Eyes are eclipsed: despair

claims the corners of her mouth and drips

like the acid darkness of a moonless night.

One day I returned home and was changing out of my school uniform when armed forced arrived at my home and asked for me. I am just an innocent boy from a rural village. However, the police force threatened me and asked me ‘how many family members do you have?’, ‘what does your father do?’ ‘what explosives do you have?’ I was shivering and humbly asked them to believe that I had no explosives. However, they put a pistol to my head and ordered me to leave the community. The armed forces also met with the elite members of our village and told them to send me to the jungle. I felt so hurt. I did not know where to go. My community was my beloved area, but I could not even get shelter in my own home. I was from a poor family where I had lived with my mother and my grandparent. Our family expenditure was gained through the pension of my widowed grandmother.

Earlier, in school some Maoists had come to our school and had forcefully made themselves chairperson of the school committee to regulate all extra school curricula. Due to this Maoist infl uence a rumour was started that I was involved as a young Maoist. This is why the army were now threatening me.

My family sent me to Kathmandu for my own safety. However, I was not able to access education as I did not have my transfer certifi cate. I needed to return to Pokhara to gain my transfer certifi cate. I returned home during the Tihar festival time, it was very cold weather. Everyone was busy preparing for the festival, preparing new clothes and painting their homes. However, I could not join the celebrations. I could not take ‘tikka’ (blessing) with my grandmother or with my sister.

Since the peace agreement I have been able to return. However, some of my friends have still threatened me, one boy said ‘if something goes wrong in our village, I will fi rst explore your home’.

This story was chosen to share as it is the true story of one of our Child Club members and he has been changed by the incident. For two years he could not rejoin his education. Even though he had not joined the Maoist cadre, he was discriminated against. Now he has been brave to rejoin the school.

Story of Most Signifi cant change (boy, Tanahun)

Khin Maya AleKeshavtar—5, Tanahun

13

FAINT RED LOVE

Tell me just one more storyand tell me

why your faint eyeshave stopped talking.

Why your handshave lost their softness

why your soundstaste harsh to mewhy your silence

tastes so bitter to mewhy the colour red

smells like death to me

Red poured in the cracks of my body

fi lled with shady melancholyephemeral red of lifeand lethargy of itself

You have paintedyour greatestjoy and agony

with a

14

“STORY”

Those were bad times; those were bad days. The war betw� n

Nepal Army and the Maoist Militia was as its most violent.

We had always only heard on the radio or s� n on TV the news

about daily encounters betw� n the two armies. We heard the

names of various places where such encounters t� k place, and

heard about how many had died on each side and how many maimed by

bu� ets and explosives. Those times, those circumstances were

bad: those were the days of the emergency rule over the country.

There were sieges on towns, roads were closed frequently, there

were nation-wide strikes. It was the fate of the people to su� er

through those days, those circumstances and those times.

It was during the time when the Maoists had ca� ed for an

indefinite strike in the country. The Maoists were cu� ing tr� s

in many places along the highway to create obstructions for

vehicles. They had cut a huge tr� in Ganeshpur and put it acro�

the highway. The indefinite strike ca� ed by them ended on 28

February, 2005. I� ediately, government forces started clearing

the obstructions along the highway. They reached Ganeshpur and

started cu� ing the tr� into sma� er pieces to remove it from the

highway.

From the north of the highway, a su� en shout of “A� ack!”

was heard: Maoist militia had b� n waiting to ambush Nepal Army

perso� el. Their a� ack started at four-thirty in the aftern� n.

Nepal Army, unable to cope with the a� ack, started firing back at

the Maoists. It became an encounter betw� n the two forces. The

ba� le gradua� y became more fierce.

It was a normal aftern� n in the vi� age: people were busy

with their daily routines. Students were busy finishing their

cla� es in the sch� l. Cowherds and goatherds were busy with their

ca� le. Many men and women had gone into the jungle to gather

fo� er for their bu� aloes. Some were even traveling to other

vi� ages along the same highway. They were dumbfounded by the

chaos.

Students had to hide in their cla� r� ms and wait for the

encounter to end. People that were in the jungle gathering

fo� er had to sl� p in the jungle for the night. Cowherds and

goatherds had to abandon their ca� le and wo� y about saving

their own lives.

I was in sch� l that day, and there was a lot of fear in my

heart. I feared for my life. I waited and wondered if people in

my vi� age were safe from the gunfire. I was not alone in being

frightened and wo� ied—the sch� l was fu� of students like me,

and each person was equa� y scared. There were loud bursts of

gunfire everywhere, and blasts of bombs in betw� n.

A lot of i� ocent Nepali people lost their lives for

nothing. Many Nepal Army perso� el were ki� ed. A lot of

Maoists also became martyrs. The militia sustained a lot of

damage.

Frightened people were hiding under their beds and in

ditches. The sound of guns and bu� ets and bombs became even

louder. Some voices ca� ed for their mothers; some cried

“water!” Many people died that night, but each person who died

was ultimately a Nepali, like any other. Many i� ocent Nepali

people experienced the most frightening day of their lives.

Those were very bad days: the situation was fragile. We

had only heard about encounters in vi� ages far away, but on

that day we were forced to experience it around us. Our country

drowning was in a d� p we� of violence during those days. If it

had b� n peaceful days like today, we would’ve b� n spared that

incident. That was one of the bl� diest incidents in the entire

country. If such blind ma� acres would never repeat, how ha� y

would we be, the children of this country!

- A member of CC, Bardia

FAINT RED LOVE

Tell me just one more storyand tell mewhy your faint eyeshave stopped talking.

Why your handshave lost their softnesswhy your soundstaste harsh to mewhy your silence tastes so bitter to mewhy the colour red smells like death to me

Red poured in the cracks of my body

f illed with shady melancholyephemeral red of lifeand lethargy of itself

Y ou have paintedyour greatestjoy and agonywith a trite red torrentthat strangers have pulled outof your body

Faint red lovefaint of love

Young man from ACJ

“SONG” Four-thirty PM, 28 February, 2005,a day like any other, but we sufferedan incident in our village Ganeshpurin Mohammadpur: a long, angry battlethree-hour long, between two sides inuniform: for the state, for the warring rebels.The wake left three hundred maimed, sixtydead. “They died willing, or they died scared,”many said. Fear that reached with darkroots into the children’s hearts wentonly away after painful, long talks toreturn trust. What is use war? Deathbreaks Mother Nepal’s heart with everyname, every face erased from our midst.

Parbati Basaula, Class: 8 / Age: 14Chairperson, Pragati Children’s Club, Ganeshpur, Bardia

18 19

AN INCIDENT NEAR OUR VILLAGE

Da� apur Vi� age ward 4 of Moha� adpur VDC, in Bardiya

district; Chauki hamlet is a neighborh� d in Da� apur.

People of many di� erent ethnicity live here. Agriculture

is our main o� upation.

There were many ups and downs in our vi� age during the

ten year long war. Among many incidents in this vi� age,

one started on a Thursday in February of 2005. It was a day

of Nepal bandh. The country was at a standsti� because of a

strike ca� ed by the Maoists, who also used the o� ortunity

to cut a ta� s� l tr� to put it acro� the highway in our

vi� age. The tr� sat there for almost a w� k. Nobody had the

courage to clear the road by moving the tr� .

On 28 February, a Monday, a security patrol from

Gulariya came to clear the road by cu� ing the tr� into

pieces. This group had betw� n 50 and 60 men in the co� and.

When the Maoists realized that the number of men in the

co� and was so sma� , they su� ounded the security patrol.

They made a plan to close the highway to vehicles coming from

the east and the west, and ambush the security patrol.

Coincidenta� y, a Nepal Army patrol with 400 to 500 men

also a� ived on the scene at that exact moment. Finding each

other face to face, people with guns climbed to the r� ftops

of cement houses to sh� t at each other. Once the order was

given to fire, it started to rain bu� ets from a� around. It

sounded as if the blast of guns and bombs were tearing apart

the ground.

As we heard guns and bu� ets hit the wa� s around us, we

began wondering if we would be hit. We lost a� sense and

became dazed by fear and wo� ied for our lives. We thought we would a� die that night. Around 8 o’clock, the sound of guns and bombs became quieter. A night-vision helicopter brought f� d for the security patrol. Light returned to our vi� age with the first hour of dawn, but the river of bl� d did not cease its violent fl� d. There were 70 bodies sca� ered around our houses.Our vi� age is a beautiful place. It is a lot of fun to live here, but this scary event also ha� ened here. Two bu� aloes had b� n hit by bu� ets and were lying dead behind our house. Some mothers started crying because their sons hadn’t returned home.

Although the encountered lasted only a night, the fear in people’s heart t� k longer to go away. People shut their d� rs and stayed inside. One day, an unfamiliar lady came to our vi� age. She brought ha� ine� to the people. The lady’s name was Sukamaya Sunar. She gathered the children and told them ha� y stories. Listening to her made most of the fear and te� or in my heart go away. She said many things to make us f� l be� er. She gave us things to play with and read. After talking to her, I found the courage to go back to sch� l. My life changed because she came to our vi� age and talked to us. I am very ha� y to have got the o� ortunity to expre� and write about the things I heard and saw in my vi� age.Thank you!

A girl (girl-12)

Bardia, Nepal 21

From Conflict

to Peace

18 year old Muna Thapa is the eldest amongst her 5 siblings. She was an active member of the child club in her community, for 2 years, before the political furore in the country, inspired her to join the revolutionist party along with her friends. She was in class 9 at the time. “I travelled all over conducting cultural programmes for the party. I stopped going to school because my work with the party took up all my time,” she recalls.

After 2 years of travelling, weary and plagued by the guilt of having left her studies, she returned home, only to fi nd that her parents were unable to send her to school again. “The only solution that I could think of was seeking help from the child club. It was very heart warming to receive encouragement from the club members,” says Muna. The Chautari Child Club members decided that Muna will be enrolled in class 9 again and that she will also be given school fee support and educational materials to help her get started.

To realise this initiative, the president of the Child Club, Santosh Karki and the

secretary, Rita Khadki, organised support for Muna’s school fees from the district NGO. The child club members also organised a fund raising event to provide her with educational materials like pen, notebooks, uniform etc.

Muna is now pursuing her studies once again. “Not only did I get to study again but I have also been able to get my eyes checked. I was suffering from night blindness but with the Child Club’s initiative I also managed to correct this,” exclaims Muna. “I want to work as a social worker in the near future,” she states. Muna is grateful for the opportunity she was presented by the Child Club and conveys a heartfelt thank you to them.

Muna returns to school

Girl, Laliya Primary SchoolGirl, Laliya Primary School

22

I wonder what life in New Nepalwill be like for the oppressed: will

the violence we saw during troublesome

years cease? Will the sound of bombs,

screams of the hungry poor and cries

of brothers thirsting after blood stop now

that they’ve fought together for peace?

I hope our mountains and plains will

never suffer again, my people and

peace eternally bonded together.

Jit Bahadur BK, Class – 9

Khairichandanpur – 9, Karmohani, BardiaKhairichandanpur – 9, Karmohani, Bardia

PEACE MESSAGE:

SAVE OUR MOTHER COUNTRY, OUR MOTHERLAND UGANDA

As a nation, Uganda is known as the Pearl of Africa – the

land of fr� dom where our future, liberty, life and where

the beaty of Africa is s� n.

In Uganda, human life was highly placed above a� things.

Even a misca� iage was considered a great misfortune;

hence, no ruthle� destruction of life was a� owed. To reach

the highest point, honesty and trust was required. Elders

in Uganda were considered truthful; and a measure of moral

integrity.

Every family in Northern Uganda, especia� y in the Acholi-

land, has b� n wounded and a� ected because of violence.

There is only sadne� and bi� erne� , when people reflect on

these sad events that have ha� ened in their lives.

Ugandan politicians should let the country, especia� y

Northern Uganda, breathe fresh air of peace, justice,

fr� dom and liberty once again. Military coups, stru� le

for power, gr� d, revenge and violence have completely

destroyed Northern Uganda.

They have turned the region into a kind of game reserve where

many political poachers get their prey against the law.

Peace without truth is poison. My fe� ow citizens – peace

is not merely the absence of war. Nor can it be reduced to a

balance of power betw� n enemies. Nor can peace be brought

about by dictatorship. Peace is an enterprise of justice.

Peace comes from harmony that is built into human society.

It is in the sense of justice that can help us overcome the

bad habits of profit� ring at the expense of others. Peace

must be built on honesty, integrity, fr� dom, respect,

trust and charity. Young male, WAYA

WE, THE CHILDREN, WANT A NEW NAT ION.

My most painful experience was when my father started to tell me about all the problems they

had faced in the past years. When many persons died and they could not go to any other place

because soldiers were all over the place. When I am studying, I think that the war has not ended,

it is still hapening in our towns. More women are being murdered; and when I listen to the radio,

there are times when I cry when I hear the news.

But for me, it is important to build a world of peace, just by telling the truth, so corruption can end.

Girl from Utz K’aslemal

2524

“A PŒ M”

My sisters and my brothers of Nepal!

Let’s stop violence for once and for all!

How cheap bullets seems these days,

fi nding children for their target always!

How little the lives of people are valued,

So easily murder and violence ensued.

So many died in Ganeshpur of Bardia:

three-hours of fi ghting lasted forever.

Nepal’s children are terrorized by guns.

No thought of the futures of us young ones.

War has left our friends so many orphaned:

Who cares what was for their futures planned?

What matters who dies? The widow is a

Nepali daughter, as is the orphaned child.

Long ago, Buddha was born in this land:

Yet, there is nobody to really understand

that we must work together for peace and

progress. Violence must cease. We must stand

together to wipe away Mother Nepal’s tears,

to bring some joy to the daughter who fears

for her future. Lets us make this fi rm resolve

for lasting peace, through understanding and love.

Saraswoti Basaula Class: 6. Age: 12

Pragati Children’s Club

Ganeshpur, Mohammadpur – 4, Bardia

MATEO: I would like to learn about the internal armed confl ict.

PEDRO: Well, I think that the internal armed confl ict is what took place years ago, where our parents were victims of intense discrimination, which was started by the armed forces of our country, Guatemala, against indigenous populations. The armed forces started violating the rights of persons, they raped women, forced children to join the army, and when children refused, they were killed. That is why many people got tired of the abuse of the armed forces and started forming groups to protect their homes and this group became larger bit by bit, and that is how groups of guerrilleros started. After realizing so many people had died in the country, the guerrilla and the armed forces decided to shake hands, i.e. for peace to begin.

MATEO: I would also like to know what peace building is.

PEDRO: OK, I will tell you what peace building is: people started building peace after the internal armed confl ict. This means building a new country, a new life. We have to prevent, to inform others that we have to build peace in our homes, in the streets and in the schools. To live in peace we must respect others, we must not fi ght or hurt others. If we do this, we can build peace in our homes, villages, municipalities, departments, regions. That is how peace will be built and we will be able to keep the guerrilla from returning, i.e. for the armed confl ict not to happen again. We can also organize small groups to inform others and for adults to listen to us adolescents and youths.

Age: 14 years oldADEBQ’I

Internal Armed Confl ict and Peace Building

A MESSAGE OF PEACE

The land of Gorkhas, home of the khukuri blade,is waiting for the return of the doves of peace.

Everyone seems thirsty for each other’s blood,putting guns in young hands meant for books.

Have you forgotten the true face of our country?Go back to the old days of peace and quiet pride.

Our happiness was always strong: like Everest.Someday, the doves will return with their message.

Sapana GurungClass 8, Tanahun

27

“BIRTH OF THE REPUBLIC”

Nepal cried bi� er tears when peace

disa� eared and brothers qua� e� ed,

bathed hands in each other’s bl� d, chased

away from the land any shadow of quiet.

When, overnight, King Birendra’s line

was ma� acred and Gyanendra’s reign

began, or when a war that would last

a decade claimed Lenin and Mao

as its teachers, it lead to a great deal

of su� ering for mi� ions of people,

and death for thousands more. Then came a

new age of tu� le betw� n the palace

and people’s parties: the cabinet of

ministers was di� olved, seven parties

t� k to the str� ts in protest, then agr� d

among themselves to bring forth peace

through an a� ord with the rebel Maoists.

“We’� end monarchy, if we have the

su� ort and ble� ing of the people,” the

leaders said. An April uprising surged

with the people’s su� ort: there was no

security for the co� on people, there

was no way out but to march with linked

arms, raising thousand fists, a sea of faces

shouting for democracy. Twenty-two

were martyred by the dictator’s g� ns.

Fina� y Gyanendra relented: he ca� ed

upon the parties to select a prime minister.

That made the people angrier: they shouted

louder, marched harder, bled with more rage.

Gyanendra had no choice but to reinstate

the di� olved parliament. Everybody

celebrated. Everybody wanted a republic,

and an end to the monarchy: this, people

knew, was the only a� urance for genuine

security and peace in the country. Fina� y

the day came when a new republic was born.

And with it a� wars, a� violence ended.

Taraprasad Neupane “Tapan”Devghat-2, Tanhun

Devghat Community Development Center

28 29

30 31

Peace Building

SONG CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

Friends, listen to me for a momentTo share a message of awareness and peaceThat is born in our hearts.

CHORUS

Children today want to live in peaceIn harmony and love

Our rights should not be violated any moreWe want to be treated as human beingsAnd not like animals

We always rely on youThink about those who are poor and about orphans too

Help those who are sick, think about your brothers and sisters andThat tomorrow we will be the future of Guatemala, GuatemalaThis has been a message of harmony and pace.

ADEBQ’IAGE: 15 years old

WE NEED TO ACT TO LIVE IN PEACEIn order to live in peace, our government should come to agreements with other countries; create job opportunities for the most needy. That is the fi rst thing we should do to stop violence and to reduce inequity. All of us should have the same rights, and we should help each other and lend a hand to others, as some people in Guatemala say. We are in dire need of job opportunities.

Boy from Utz K’aslemal

WE NEED TO ACT TO LIVE IN PEACEIn order to live in peace, our government should come to agreements with other countries; create job opportunities for the most needy. That is the fi rst thing we should do to stop violence and to reduce inequity. All of us should have the same rights, and we should help each other and lend a hand to others, as some people in Guatemala say. We are in dire need of job opportunities.

Boy from Utz K’aslemal

WE NEED TO ACT TO LIVE IN PEACEIn order to live in peace, our government should come to agreements with other countries; create job opportunities for the most needy. That is the fi rst thing we should do to stop violence and to reduce inequity. All of us should have the same rights, and we should help each other and lend a hand to others, as some people in Guatemala say. We are in dire need of job opportunities.

Boy from Utz K’aslemal

IMPORTANCE OF PEACE CLUBS

Some of the benefits of peace clubs are:

Peace clubs bring us together in the sch� l

Peace clubs create a ha� y generation through sharing

Peace clubs promote internal peace. Members resolve

conflicts among themselves

Peace clubs increase participation of members.

We develop ski� s from one another

Young male, Lukome Primary School32 33

“COME TOGETHER!”

To let peace f ind its home with us,

to save children from a violent fate,

to calm angry thoughts in the country:

let us join hands, let us come together.

Once again, let Nepal be peaceful,

and renowned for it. To let democracy

and republicanism f ind strength

here and f lourish, let us come together.

Give up your warring ways, don’t

kill, don’t spread violence. This is

the country of peace, and for Nepal

to remain peaceful, let us come together.

Show respect for every person, show

respect for your duties towards Nepal.

So that we may reclaim once more our

Nepali peace, let us come together.

In towns and villages across the land

let us raise our voice, raise our hands

and again stand shoulder to shoulder

for peace: let us come together.

Bikas Tamu [Byathit]

Bandipur-9, Jhar Gaun, Tanhun 35

PEACE

We can build peaceThrough all our efforts.We can build peaceIn our world, to live better.

We should all work and stay togetherBecause we cannot do anything if we are alone.We should all take partIn building peaceFor our country, Guatemala.

We should not look back, but alwaysForward to get to where we want toGo to reach our goalTo build peace.

We can live well only where there is Peace, that is why all of us together should buildPeace to live peacefullyIn our future life.

Butterfl y – 15 years oldFemale TALITA KUMI

37

MANY REGIONS, ONE COUNTRY

A country of many regionsWith a people created by one GodNot only Africans, but UgandansOf the same blood, but split;And are warring factionsFar different from each other

A country of many regionsOne of which has never knownSeen, experienced; but has heard of peaceBut this peace has had no impactJust because a few thinkUnless they retaliateThey can never gain fame or be heard

For this country of many regionsLook right, take a stepYou will then perceive howAnd as one, make a differenceTo restore love as it was meant to beLove beyond perfectionThen we shall love at every costFor a country of many regions

In this country of many regionsPeace will then prevailIt is only you and IStop blaming who and whyBut fi nd what to do as oneWherever and whenever possibleAnd then we shall stand strongerUnited in diversityFor a country of one people and one nation

Young female, Sacred Heart

For a country of one people and one nation

Young female, Sacred Heart

39

40 41

42 43

PEACE, ALL PEOPLE IN NORTHERN UGANDA ARE LONGING FOR YOU

Where are you peaceFor twenty years peopleHave suffered a lotIn Northern Uganda

Peace, see how much we miss youRelatives are f ighting,Not knowing who is f ighting who

Where are you peaceAll the people in Northern Uganda are longing for youWhen will you come back, peaceWhen will you solve our problems, peaceWhen shall we knowYou are the real peaceWho has come to stay forever

Peace, peace, peaceThis is the time to showWhat you look likeIn the world

Young male, Loki Tam Children’s Association

45

CHILDREN CAN BUILD PEACE

Old proverb says “Love someone and let someone love

you”.

These words show that love and unity are the most

valuable feelings.

Love, unity and peace are build only by children.

Children are angels, little angels that shine happiness,

laughter and joy all over the world.

With their innocence and playful games they bring hap-

piness to all people around them.

Children do not know envy, hate and bitterness.

Children’s fantasies are limitless and their dearest are

magicians who with one touch change colors.

Children’s joy fl ow like a waterfall.

People’s emotions that are isolated and hide somewhere

deep inside their hearts only child’s smile can bring out.

There are bad and dishonest people in the world, and

such people are often the cause of evil and unrest.

Majority of adults make mistakes and become unhappy,

the worst wounds heal, the tears cried are forgotten.

After the rain comes the sun, after the winter comes

the spring and after sorrow comes happiness.

Peace, love and unity can only be built by children,

because children themselves are symbol of happiness.

(Girl, 15 years old)

CHILDREN WOULD BUILD PEACEWhen I come back from school, I daydream about resting in fresh air and careless play. I think about how nice it is while you ’re small and when everything around you is nice and calm.

But....my thoughts wander far. I think about children that are not happy, that do not have caring friends or parents’ love, that do not have food and toys, and often do not even have peace.

Children would build a life on Earth accord-ing to their own, because we would play and not make difference among people according to their faith, race, wealth, beauty. We only know who is good, and how is bad.

We would do everything to have a life fu ll of happiness, joy, play, and each new day would be felt in our little hearts, our yards, in our schools and homes.

Let peace rule the world, let peace rule over the planet.

(girl, 11 years old)

PEACE, ALL PEOPLE IN NORTHERN

UGANDA ARE LONGING FOR YOU

Where are you peaceFor twenty years people

Have suffered a lotIn Northern Uganda

Peace, see how much we miss you

Relatives are f ighting,

Not knowing who is f ighting who

Where are you peaceAll the people in Northern Uganda are longing

for youWhen will you come back, peace

When will you solve our problems, peace

When shall we knowYou are the real peace

Who has come to stay forever

Peace, peace, peaceThis is the time to show

What you look likeIn the world

Young male, Loki Tam Children’s Association

Post Conflict

In Guatemala many children and adoles-cents die due to lack of fi nancial resources, they also die because they do not have a safe home. “To live in peace, we say, only those who do not quit, triumph!” H.L.V.S.

Please do not walk barefoot. Do not pretend to be happy if you do not know happiness.Until we reach victory, we will always fi ght for peace.

In Guatemala, there are also many women who are raped by criminals and gang members. That is why we tell them, No more violence in Guatemala.If there is no violence and delinquents, we can build peace together. I love you, Guatemala.

In Guatemala, many children were left behind by their parents due to the internal armed confl ict that happened many years ago.Do not let others humiliate you. Do not let them violate their rights. “Together we can change our beautiful and lovely Guatemala.” H.L.V.S.

Why there is no peace: why do you want peace if you do not realize where you are. Because you cannot live in peace if you live in such a small place.

In Guatemala there are many homes that were abandoned due to the internal armed confl ict. “”Only those who do not sur-render, triumph and work for a better country””

49

In our municipalities there are many deaths, and a lot of violence and cruelty. We want a Guatemala where there is peace and love. We can do it with your support.

Let’s support children and adoles-cents who seek a better future for our country. We should contribute to help all those Guatemalans who need food, and that is peace.

You have been told that peace is a gift, but gifts are not given to someone else. Peace cannot be bought or sold. Peace is within us, as Guatemalans. Please help each other.In Guatemala there is a lot of poverty, but with your help, we can change this.Together for a better Guatemala, we can do it with your support. For Guatemala. HLVS.

Made by:Place: Hotel Kumarcaj

Name of the Association:

Utz K’aslemalDate: 23/10/07. H.L.V.S.

With your help and support we can build peace and a better Guatemala.

No more sad faces, nor faces beat up by others. We want happy faces to fi nd peace.

50 51

Children’s rights

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

I want to ask you where our rights have gone?

Is this, for children’s rights, your defi nition?

You speak for us, but never ask what we want.

Who knows what children in the streets want?

You’ve put guns in hands made for pens, and

crammed our eager, young minds with war’s ways.

Hands that should be grinding colors make grenades

and our feet forget school, lead instead to battle-trenches.

Slogans about children’s rights haven’t done anything

for us. Please, time has come to think about us,

work for our good, bring real rights to the children

instead of using our pains for your own benefi ts.

We are still children, so give us our share, opportunities,

love, a path ahead free of thorns and giant obstacles.

We are, after all, the future of this glorious nation, therefore

we need what is our rights, what you call children’s rights.

Thank you,

Dilip karki (boy)Class 10; Udayapur, Nepal

SONG CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

Friends, listen to me for a momentTo share a message of awareness and peaceThat is born in our hearts.

CHORUS

Children today want to live in peaceIn harmony and love

Our rights should not be violated any moreWe want to be treated as human beingsAnd not like animals

We always rely on youThink about those who are poor and about orphans too

Help those who are sick, think about your brothers and sisters andThat tomorrow we will be the future of Guatemala, GuatemalaThis has been a message of harmony and pace.

ADEBQ’IAGE: 15 years old

53

LET CHILDREN BUILD PEACE

Enough of suffering and pain

It is time for a new reign

For new happiness without sorrow and war

For happiness for child, father and all.

Let the children be the rulers,

To bravely lead the country in honour,

To rule the world for a better tomorrow,

For shining nights and mornings.

Their hearts are full of love,

In them there are no lies or deceit,

Their soul wants only justice,

Their heart wants only respect.

They would build peace all over the world,

Bringing plenty of love and happiness,

Only if someone would want to help them,

Only if someone would want to support them.

All dreams would come true,

People would live under a proper rule,

All would live in happiness and joy

With children in power forever and always.

(Girl, 15 year old girl)

54

For more information on the Research and evaluation on Children's participation in armed conflict, post conflict and peace building, see the

following publications, which can be downloaded from: http://www.reddbarna.no/default.asp?V_ITEM_ID=19028

Global publications

Global Report

Summary of the Global Report

Executive Summary of the Global Report

I painted peace - a Handbook on peace building for children and young people

Kit of Tools for participatory research and evaluation with children, young people and adults

Searching together – Formative Dialogue Research made easy

Ethical guidelines

Summary of Country reports

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Children's participation in armed conflict and peace building

Guatemala: Children's participation in armed conflict and peace building context

Nepal: Thematic Evaluation of Children’s Participation in Armed Conflict, Post Conflict and Peace Building

Uganda: Thematic Evaluation of Children’s Participation in Armed Conflict, Post Conflict and Peace Building

www.reddbarna.no/default.asp?V_ITEM_ID=19028

Children’s Participation in Armed Confl ict, Post Confl ict and Peace Building, 2006–2008

Save the Children Norway’s Thematic Evaluation on children’s participation has taken place in four countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Guatemala, Nepal and Uganda. It is based on the active involvement of girls and boys who are members of children’s organisations, clubs, associations and groups.

The overall purpose has been to contribute to strengthening children and young people’s capacities regarding peace building initiatives and to promote the inclusion of children’s voices in peace processes.

Children and young people have been actively involved as advisers, peer researchers, active respondents, development workers, peace agents, documenters and advocates. In partnership with adult researchers, they have been using a range of participatory tools to explore their experiences of armed confl ict, their understanding of peace building, the factors which limit or support children’s active participation in peace building, and received support for peace building initiatives. Adults’ views on these issues have also been explored.

‘Formative dialogue research’ has been used as an overall research methodology to encourage dialogue on differences in perspectives between adults and children, and/or among children. It is also being used to support ongoing efforts to strengthen children’s participation initiatives based on the knowledge gained during the research process.

Save the Children Norway Storgt. 38, 0182 Oslo, Norway

Telephone: +47 22 99 09 00 www.reddbarna.no/chp