4 ways that college students are curbing violence around the world
By Emily Friedman, senior commitments manager, Clinton Global Initiative
This week, the world will celebrate International Youth Day, with this year’s theme focusing on young people’s contributions to peace building efforts. According to the World Health Organization, 200,000 homicides occur among youth 10–29 years old every year — this number represents 43 percent of total homicides globally. Creating a safer world will require tapping the power of youth.
“200,000 homicides occur among youth 10–29 years old every year — this number represents 43 percent of total homicides globally “— World Health Organization
Fortunately, young members of the CGI University are already mobilizing to prevent conflicts — here in the United States and around the world. From addressing gang violence in Boston, to preventing human rights violations among North Korean orphans, these young leaders are striving to address the communities’ toughest challenges. Keep reading to learn more on our CGI U examples of youth-driven solutions at work.
A conflict resolution curriculum for teens in Boston, MA
This year, three students from Boston University committed to developing and implementing conflict resolution curriculum for teens to decrease youth involvement in gangs and violent extremism in Boston. Ellen Asermely, Emily Williams, and Melanie Cabral will format workshops and activities using nonviolent conflict resolution techniques, targeting 12–16 year olds living in communities with high rates of violence and gang activity. They intend to work with select Boston Public Schools to pilot the curriculum. By the end of the 2017–2018 school year, they hope to expand “Building Bridges” to all Boston secondary schools while launching an online portal accessible to schools around the United States.
Legislation to assist victims of gender-based violence in Pakistan
After seeing rates of violence against women increase, Hafsah Lak worked with the Chief Minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit in Punjab, Pakistan, where she co-drafted the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act of 2016 and Punjab Women Protection Authority Act 2017. The implementation mechanism of the 2016 Act are “Violence Against Women Centers,” which streamline justice delivery processes by converging all essential services under one roof, and thus help enforce and deter violence against women.
Pakistan’s first Violence Against Women Center opened on March 25, 2017, and helped resolve over 100 cases just within the first two weeks of its launch. It is helping women escape abusive families and find relief in a region where violence against women is rampant. These centers have proved useful as recently as July 2017 when an assault of a 16 year old girl in Pakistan was reported. A scholar at the Pearson Institute, Hafsah recently graduated from University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, and continues to work on the implementation of this system across the Province of Punjab.
Identify issues affecting North Korean Orphans
This year, St. Andrew’s University student Jae Chul Park committed to interviewing North Korean defectors and experts in South Korea to raise awareness about North Korean orphans and child trafficking. Jae Chul will work with the Association of the North Korean Defectors to identify and conduct 20 interviews with individuals to gain first-hand reports of the conditions and human rights violations that North Korean orphans face, and will present his project to his university community in the fall of 2017. He hopes to shed light on the treatment of North Korean orphans and submit his work to assist future relief work.
Allow girls in Ethiopia to pay their own way through college
After witnessing the financial difficulties of female college students in her native Ethiopia, Mount Holyoke College student Woyneab Habte became inspired. So in 2015, she started On-Her-Own, a copy shop where she hired only women students. The idea was to provide a way for these at-risk youth to pay for their studies without having to resort to other methods such as prostitution. As of 2016, On-Her-Own employs nine women; and with the support of the university, the business made a 41 percent profit in its first four months.. For more, read this profile on Woyneab published by Mount Holyoke College.
If you know a former CGI U student doing inspiring work, or if you are one yourself, we want to hear from you. Students selected will be featured by CGI U and may have the opportunity to join us at our next CGI U meeting, October 13–15, 2017 at Northeastern University in Boston.
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