| Sponsoring the Grassroots Peace Clubs, Peace Rallies and Peace Education Centers 1. The Grassroots Peace Clubs In practice, the national peace launching committee approaches a church, mosque, school, or community, and asks if they would like the grassroots peace and love club to be formed in their organization. This is followed by the appointment of a local launching committee to work out the detail of the formation and launching of the local peace club. After the launching of the peace club, the planning committee usually transforms into the executive working committee of the local peace and love club. The local peace club then adopts a constitution usually similar to in nature to A.P.P.L.I. national constitution but amended to reflect the affiliate status of the grassroots peace and love club. In Nigeria, in the meantime, we launch two types of grassroots peace club: the KAYERO and the KAIROS Peace and Love Clubs. KAYERO in Yoruba means “Let Peace Prevail on Earth.” KAIROS, a NT Greek word means “The Appointed Time of God.” We are encouraging our affiliates and chapters to give similar names to grassroots peace clubs in their own local languages and dialects. 2. The Peace Rallies The peace rallies are usually big events that involve several cells or clusters of grassroots peace clubs within a locality. The participants, wearing their peace T- shirts with the inscription “Africa, the Future Land of Peace”, parade the streets, neighborhood, marketplaces, calling on people to embrace peace. Handbills, leaflets, and tracts are distributed along with peace gift items such as peace pens, peace exercise books, peace calculators, etc. The rallies are usually supported with boys and girls brigades singing popular peace songs, and dancing to drums and trumpets. The peace rallies are usually conducted at special occasions like religious festivals, Christmas holidays, election times, etc. 3. The Peace Education Centers The ideas of the peace education centers are still being worked out. As mentioned in the body of this paper, it is envisaged that where we have about ten or more grassroots peace clubs in a locality, we will establish a peace education center for them. We will equip these peace education centers with peace learning and life skill resources such as peace literatures, videos of renowned local and international peace activists, computers and other learning facilities. These peace education centers will also be used as conference centers and mini lecture for the community of peacebuilders. 4. Sponsorship is urgently needed for these out-reach of A.P.P.L.I. Peace clubs and peace education centers will be named after sponsors and their families. More information about sponsorship of grassroots peace clubs can be obtained from the national chapters nearest to you or by contacting Rev. Titus K. Oyeyemi at 708 647- 9880. Fax enquiries can be sent to 708 647 9870. E-mail enquires can also be sent to oyeyemiappli@sbcglobal.net |
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