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The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Executive Secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, awarded three young poets and one young film maker who contested during the #IGADForPeace social media campaign in abid to advocate for peace and social development through arts.
The hand over ceremony took place at the Office of the IGAD Head of Mission located within the premises of the Kenya Medical Training College Campus on Karen Road in the presence of the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, the IGAD Special Envoy for the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Somalia, as well as IGAD Divisions Directors and Specialised Institutions.
The awardees for Kenya are film maker Wakarima Wangui, 30 and poets Norris Mwavita, 21, Troy Roy Njagi, 19 and Cheboi Wakoli who were awarded for their peace poems and peace film.
The Executive Secretary applauded the awardees for their talent and encouraged them to pursue their dreams. He commended them for their creativity in advocating for peace through artistic approach to advance peace amongst the young generation for development. “It is a pleasure for me to meet, greet and award young promising talents in poetry and filmmaking in Nairobi today”, he said.
“Youth account for a large majority of our population, and they are the ones most confronted with challenges such as unemployment, violence and drugs. They are the voice for a peaceful future we need to hear. Talking the language of the youth through the youth is paramount in passing the message of good governance and peace building. At IGAD, we aim to leverage on young people’s talents through advocacy making them peace ambassadors,”he continued before handing over the Awards.
The peace campaign was aimed at highlighting the aspects that contribute to the promotion of peace within the IGAD region where tension between countries and armed conflicts thrive.
Similar award ceremonies will be held in the Offices of the IGAD Heads of Mission in other IGAD member countries.