1. INTRODUCTION
Youth Peace Makers Tanzania has several activities that are
implemented in Stop poverty campaign. Stop poverty campaign is built by many
activities. In the sense it is not only economic well being, or environmental
well being or healthier individual that may lead to stop poverty, but a
combination of all.
Hence Stop poverty campaign has several activities which are:
ž Economic
Justice
ž Advocacy
and Environmental justice
ž Just
Peace
ž Sport
and Games
2. Economic Justice
Activities that are implemented under economic justice are
as follows:
2.1. Awareness
Creation on Development Issues.
2.2. Business
incubation and Community learning Centre.
2.3 Peace Makers - Village Community Bank (PM-VICOBA)
2.1 Awareness
Creation on Development Issues.
Tanzania is a rich country but her people are very poor.
Hence there is need for the people of this country to be aware on how reach is
their country. There is need to educate the community members to understand
that it is possible to come out of the situation for poverty is not God given
but man-made catastrophe. It is possible to work “Together for a Just World”
2.2. Business
Incubation and Community leaning Centre
Lacking information sometimes leads to isolation from the
rest of the world. However, as we all know information is power. At this point YPM
has established centre’s in Mlalo, Shume, Msongolo and Lushoto. The objective
of establishing the centres is to make sure that there is centre for
information to the youth and communities and incubate those businesses
established by the youth and communities. The learning center which is also
known as the ICT Solar Kiosk is a centre that harbor and provide opportunity
for
o
Information sharing point, charging cell phones,
internet, printing etc.
o
Platform for charting out ideas that have
positive effect to the community
o
A meaningful hanging out point for Youth and
other community members
o
Source of information through a mini library
with basic social related matters
o
A mini shop for basic goods needed in the
community.
o
A powerful center to motivate, mobilize and
sensitize Youth in the campaign to end poverty.
o
A model on Green business and a centre to groom
more Green Businesses.
2.3 PM-VICOBA PROGRAM
Lack of capital is a challenge to most of the youths and
community at large. However, access to bank and other possible source of loan
takes long time and need to bond something. Through Village Community Bank
(VICOBA) it is possible to manage and access loan to youth and community members
in general. Youth Peacemakers Tanzania has established VICOBA that are known as
Peacemakers – VICOBA i.e. PM – VICOBA.
ž The PM
– VICOBA groups are made up of 15- 30 members who are in groups of 5 people.
ž The
groups have administration structure that includes Chairperson, Secretary,
treasurer, Counting person and three key keepers.
ž Groups
meet once a week as agreed by members.
ž Every
group decides on their bylaws, cost for each share, time and day to meet,
selection of leaders. etc
ž Every
meeting, members are required to buy share/s and Social fund contribution
(health, Education and/or Environment)
ž Groups
are required to have a box with three locks whereby members are required to
purchase the box. The box is a property of the group.
ž The
box is the store of group’s money and documents.
ž In
order to open the box all three key keepers must be there for the treasurer to
do any transaction whether to receive or to issue money.
ž Groups
are run in transparent way where by every amount of money received or issued
must be known to every member.
3. Success and Challenges
3.1. Challenges
- Youth are very mobile. Sometimes it is not possible to keep them in one place for long.
- Youth are after quick and big results in short period of time. Youth are not patient to serve but do expect to invest in short period of time and receive enough money to fulfill their dreams.
- Some do expect that the YPM program will provide them with funds when they form groups.
- In most of communities there is no habit of ‘proper’ serving.
3.2 Successes
- There are 105 local facilitators trained in Lushoto, Handeni, Mkinga, Tanga and Korogwe Districts.
- There are 48 PM- VICOBA groups formed by the end of April, 2015.
- Youth have got knowledge on serving and entrepreneurship skills.
- There was established platform for youth’s discussions of their concerns in communities.
