Draft Culture of Peace Programme in Mozambique 25-28

PROJECT PROFILE 1.0

In the process of reconciliation, it is mothers and wives who play the most important role. This is because reconciliation is a process which starts at the family and community level. The homecoming of husbands and sons requires a process of recognition and forgiveness which is mediated by their mothers and wives, often through traditions which invoke ancestral values and religious rituals. Although women do not make the decisions which begin and end war, they end up carrying the heaviest burden for the resolution of the consequences of these decisions.

Women are demanding that they be given a greater voice in decision-making to accompany their burden of responsibility. Throughout Mozambique they are organizing as a powerful voice to ensure that their sons and husbands do not go back to war and violence. By strengthening this voice, the culture of peace can make a major contribution to Mozambique's future.

The largest of the women's organizations and the one with the most extensive network throughout the country is the Organization of Mozambican Women (OMM). Originally formed in 1973 as part of the government party FRELIMO, since 1990 the OMM has become increasingly independent. It has extensive membership at the grassroots level throughout the provinces, and even if not members of OMM, many rural women identify themselves with the organization.

Following a national seminar in May, 1993, OMM embarked on an extensive campaign of women's education. Workshops with provincial secretaries, representatives of local women's organizations, nurses, etc. were held in three regions and subsequently similar workshops were held in all ten provinces, covering human rights, the peace accords, and the process of the elections. OMM estimates that over 500 women have been trained as activists through these workshops, several of which were supported by the first phase of the Culture of Peace Programme. During that time OMM played a major role in the Programme's Steering Committee.

OMM takes part as one of the membership organizations in the Forum Mulher, which began two years ago as an umbrella group for all women's organizations. Other members include representatives from government ministries (Social Action, Agriculture, etc) women's leagues of political parties, AMRU (Association of Rural Women), etc.

This Project provides in-service training in culture of peace including conflict resolution and civic education to women trainers. These trainers,in turn, train and give material support to interest circles of rural women, through networks that have already been established on a wide geographical basis by OMM, AMRU and other local women's organizations. The Project also provides for the training and support of new activists to work in resettlement areas.

The training addresses the problems which can potentially lead to conflict and even to a return to violence: problems of legal rights and priority to land and resources; access to employment, schooling, and health care; and self-sufficiency in terms of literacy, basic knowledge and productive skills.

Training will take place using techniques that have been well developed through past programmes, including participative workshops, group work projects, dramatization, and singing. The topics include skills training in arts and crafts, techniques of conflict resolution (based upon the local experience of participants) as well as universal principles of human rights, legal rights of particular interest such as land tenure, especially in their application to women and children, civic education (democratic laws and procedures).

Training will be conducted in national languages spoken in the locality concerned. Literacy training will be provided in both Portuguese and national languages.

Accompanying the literacy and skills training will be the provision of tools and materials for appropriate local technology. A revolving credit fund for small loans at low interest will be available for the startup of small enterprises based upon the training received.

In order to give material support to the reconstitution of the family and community in areas of resettlement of refugees, especially families of demobilized soldiers, in each province support will be given, through the local women's organization, to the construction of 50 houses, a community school, and a community clinic. Construction will use primarily local materials.

Trainers trained under this project will have the opportunity to take part in the network of "peace promoters" who are trained in all projects of the Culture of Peace Programme, both in terms of special in-service training and follow-up seminars and its system of communication.

Studies will be carried out in the framework of the project by Mozambican research organizations independent of the executing agencies in order to understand the context of the activities, evaluate the effectiveness of the means employed, and propose recommendations for further project development and change.

International exchanges will be organized for some of the activists trained under this project to meet with women from similar projects in other Southern African countries as well as from other countries with culture of peace programmes.

Summary of Activities:

[<< return to previous page]

[turn to next page >>]

[cover page]
[table of contents]