6 août 2025

The NGO YOUTH AWAKE held a validation workshop on the Training Manual on Nonviolent Change Strategies and the Do No Harm Approach at its premises in Lomé.This workshop marks a key step in efforts to promote peace and social cohesion in Togo. It was made possible thanks to financial support from the ZIVIK funding program, implemented by the Institute for Nonviolent Change (IFA) with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office.Mr. Kolani Tobigue, Executive Director of the NGO YOUTH AWAKE, presented the manual as a fundamental tool for training community outreach workers.« This document will enable trainers to convey the principles of nonviolent communication to young people, students, and citizens, while raising their awareness of the risks of well-intentioned but potentially harmful actions, » he explained. To illustrate his point, he cited the example of a gift with unintended consequences, emphasizing that some initiatives, although seemingly positive, can produce effects that are contrary to the intended objectives if they do not take into account the local context and social dynamics. The document was developed with technical support from Omnium Conseil, a firm specializing in supporting governance, conflict prevention, and local development initiatives.This training manual incorporates proven methodologies for nonviolent conflict resolution, while adapting the Do No Harm approach to the specific realities of the Togolese context. It provides trainers with practical and tailored tools to conduct effective interventions in the field. The validation workshop brought together representatives from six key ministries, demonstrating the institutional importance attached to this initiative. These included: the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Customary Chieftaincy,the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection, and theMinistry of Social Action, Solidarity and the Advancement of Women, which particularly emphasized the integration of a gender approach into strategies for the prevention and peaceful management of disputes.The educational dimension was represented by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as well as the Ministry of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeships. Finally, the Ministry of Human Rights, Citizenship Training, and Relations with the Institutions of the Republic emphasized the importance of respecting fundamental rights in any process of social change.This new manual complements the booklet « Let’s Draw and Live Peace, » previously published by the NGO YOUTH AWAKE. According to the Executive Director, this combination of tools constitutes a veritable toolbox for strengthening community capacity in conflict prevention and promoting a culture of lasting peace.« The objective is to create positive reflexes in conflict management, from schools to local dialogue bodies, » he explained.The next stages of the project include the deployment of training sessions for trainers throughout the country to ensure local ownership of the manual’s content.A monitoring and evaluation system will be put in place to measure the concrete impact of the interventions, adjust strategies if necessary, and ensure the effectiveness of the actions taken. In addition, regional adaptations are planned to take into account the sociocultural realities specific to each intervention area. Through this approach, the NGO YOUTH AWAKE reaffirms its commitment to providing Togo with effective and inclusive tools to build lasting peace, rooted in communities and driven by committed agents of change.