UN urges Tanzanian youth to maintain peace

The United Nations Tanzania has called on the youth to maintain peace as an opportunity to earn income, rather than get involved in dangerous issues like migrating to other countries to seek better life.

Some of the youth have been flocking to other countries to seek opportunities or traffic goods and services using illegal means. The foundation of peace in Tanzania has been maintained for many years.

This was said by UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Dar es Salaam Information Officer Stella Vuzo, when speaking to The Citizen on Friday September 22, 2017 that each year on September 21 the world commemorated International Day of Peace, whose this year’s theme was: Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for  All.

She said in Tanzania the celebration would be held tomorrow at Mwembe Yanga grounds. “We have decided to mark it tomorrow because it is Saturday. Our intention is to give an opportunity for the youth to participate and learn the importance of maintaining the peace,” she noted.

She explained that the focus was to encourage the youth to realise wealth in their surroundings instead of thinking of migrating to other countries to seek opportunities or traffic goods and services.

The event will be preceded by a peaceful procession. Organisers have invited comedians and talented youth to the event to encourage the youth to realise their potential.

Ms Vuzo said further that the youth should recognise that they had inherited peace from former leaders so they had the responsibility to ensure peace was maintained throughout the country.

“During this day, the youth will get an opportunity to learn various issues from speakers, but also how to use peace as a source of income. There are some youth from other countries like Burundi coming to Tanzania to look for better life due to war in their country,” she said

For his part, acting country coordinator Yusuph Masanj from the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) said the youth in the country had a big role to play in peacekeeping.

“International Day of Peace means a lot to the youth because they will get opportunities to learn various issues relating to importance of having peace in the country,” he said.

The commemoration of UN International Day of Peace at Mwembe Yanga grounds is in partnership with peace stakeholders in Tanzania, including the Jane Goodall’s-Roots & Shoots, Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) and Global Peace Foundation.

Others are the Inter Religious Council for Peace in Tanzania, Tanzania Bora Initiative, Tanzania Scouts Association and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Africa Centre for Peace and Conflict Research (ACPCR) and Youth of the United Nations Association.