Award for peace builders

Beyond Violence’s “Voices for Peace” Campaign was week won the UK Westbourne 100 award, given to initiatives that are changing people’s perceptions and making the world a better place. Launched in June 2013, the ‘Voices of Peace’ campaign was recognised in the international category as one of the most outstanding campaigns of the past 12 months.

The Public Relations and Outreach Manager for Beyond Violence, Barnaby Locke, said his organisation worked in partnership with the Young Voices Network, a local NGO to spread the gospel of peace.

The campaign brought Zimbabweans together from all over the country to raise awareness about violence. By merging social media tools with radio, print and mobile phones, the campaign helped change perceptions about violence.

“We originally focused on non-violence during the election. We campaigned through social media to obtain signatures for a petition and asked people to report violence to our organisation through the toll free number we provided,” said Locke. The organisation held a similar campaign in Kenya and it is set to work in the Central African Republic, the Sahel region and Eritrea. – Sofia Mapuranga

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