Youth as Agents of Change: Harnessing the Multiplier Effect

Famboul Tok has trained and supported students across thirty (30) school clubs in Sierra Leone to promote community sensitization on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations. The school clubs not only equip young people with knowledge but also provide them with the practical skills to design and implement sensitization activities tailored to their local realities.This has fostered youth-led engagement on transitional justice. The clubs also serve as sustainable platforms for dialogue and action that has directly reached 1500 club members (900 boys and 600 girls) in Sierra Leone. Using creative media such as drama, discussions, and public events, peace club members have in turn, engaged their communities in critical dialogues that highlight the importance of unity, reconciliation, and peace reaching over 5000 community members.

Promoting Memorialization and Preventing Recurrence

Memorialization—the act of remembering past atrocities to prevent their recurrence—is at the heart of this initiative. Through educational outreach and the distribution of peace-promoting materials such as posters and handbills, young people have actively contributed to keeping the TRC’s recommendations alive in public discourse. These efforts serve as a collective reminder that history must be acknowledged, justice must be pursued, and communities must actively work towards social cohesion to break cycles of violence.

A Context-Specific, Inclusive, and Gender-Sensitive Approach

Central to this initiative is its alignment with the African Union Transitional Justice Policy, particularly in its emphasis on context specificity, inclusion, and the recognition of generational and gender dynamics. The project recognizes that transitional justice is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, by tailoring activities to the realities of Sierra Leonean communities, the initiative ensures that peace education is relevant and impactful.

Moreover, the inclusion of both boys and girls in leadership roles within the school clubs reflects a commitment to gender-sensitive transitional justice. Addressing the distinct ways in which conflict and justice processes impact different genders ensures that peacebuilding efforts are truly inclusive. Additionally, the intergenerational collaboration fostered by these activities bridges the gap between young people and elders, promoting mutual understanding and the collective responsibility of all societal members in preventing violence.

Sustaining Peace Beyond the Project’s Duration

One of the most promising aspects of this initiative is its sustainability. The school clubs have evolved into enduring platforms for youth engagement, ensuring that their peace-promoting efforts do not end with the project’s formal completion. By instilling leadership skills and confidence in young participants, the initiative has created a ripple effect—one where empowered youth continue to drive conversations on justice and reconciliation within their communities.

By teaching young people the past and providing with the necessary skills to shape the future, Famboul Tok is working to ensure a future from the recurrence of the civil war.