28/09/2018
About Silas Nyabenda Peace Funder
Who I Am
I would like to provide the contextual information that will assist my Peace Funder to support my project. My names are Silas Nyabenda. I am Burundian from South Burundi. I was born in a small village “Mutobo.” Our context has been ravaged by armed conflict in the last 30 years ago and I am currently serving as Peacekeeeper in the AMISOM Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia. I am Officer Chief Aviation Security at Mogadishu International Airport which is high risk and turbulent environment because it is believed to be the main target for Al Shaabab.
Our ultimate mission is to ensure the protection and safety of UN passengers, crews and ground personnel, the general public around Mogadishu International Airport, aircraft and airport facilities against acts of unlawful interference. We also fulfill medical evacuation and casualties for both military and civilians in all regions of Somalia.
These were the main driving reasons behind my decision to study the Master in Conflictology in the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Based on my analyses related to Burundi context I found that this conflict has deep ethnical, economic and political roots.
Based also on my analyses related to Somali context I found out that Somali conflict has deep religious roots and competition between Somali government and Al Shabaab for power control.
Hence I questioned myself as why I am not improving my skills in conflict resolution, prevention and management to be part of solution in these contexts to contribute to minimize the negative influences and maximize the positive impacts, among the affected populations, because I believe that I could bring change and positive impacts after studying my Master in Conflictology.
This course will then allow me to achieve my aim which is to contribute to peace and sustainable development both in Burundi and Somalia and also strive to achieve my overreaching vision which is to contribute to the global peace and sustainable development worldwide.
• My Project :-
UNITAR is my favorite institution because their study programmes are closely relevant to what needed for both Burundi and Somali contexts. For me to study Master in Conflictology is to linking theory with practice and applied knowledge, and to develop a more holistic understanding of critical issues surrounding conflicts.
The Main Objectives of my study in the Conflictology programme with UNITAR are the following:
• By the end of my study program, I will have to develop the relevant competences and to adapt conflict prevention, resolution and management strategies related to Burundi context and Somalia context. In addition, I will be able to provide coherent, flexible and creative conflict prevention, resolution and management. I will therefore fulfill the following:
i. I will contribute to address the root causes of conflict
ii. I will be able to support evidence of effective grassroots peace initiative
iii. I will contribute to increase level of peace and stability both in Burundi and Somalia and then, contribute to global peace and sustainable development
iv. I will assist effective community level conflict resolution, prevention and management platform.
Expected outcomes from my study:
i. Capacity development to analyze a context
ii. Capacity to frame an adequate strategies for conflict prevention, resolution and management regarding both a specific crisis and the global strategy of the organization
iii. Capacity to use specialized problem- solving skills
iv. Capacity to develop creative and flexible procedures to implement strategies for conflict prevention, resolution and management
v. Capacity to monitor and evaluate strategies and projects for further improvement
The goals of my Facebook peace funding page:
i. To support my crowdfunding campaign with UNITAR Peace Funder project and contribute to collecting the necessary funding for my Master program
ii. Receiving contributions from peace funders through mobilizing donors by using social medias
What you will expect from me?
I will regularly contribute to share with you my stories as a worker in Pecekeeping, Peace-building and peacemaking.
