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…unveils Peace Club
A Niger Delta-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Shielded Lives Initiative (SLI), has commenced a school-based anti-violence and anti-bullying initiative in Secondary schools in Bayelsa State.
This is as it launched a Peace and Human Rights Club in the bid to promote peaceful and harmonious relationships among students.
The Executive Director of SLI, Bolatito Folaranmi, who spoke at the closing ceremony of a workshop to commence the initiative with the theme, “ Building Safer Schools, Empowering Young People and Creating Peaceful Communities’’ held for students of Comprehensive Community Secondary School, Yenezue-Gene/ Biogbolo, disclosed that the programme was designed to equip secondary school students and young Bayelsans with the requisite knowledge and confidence to detect red flags of violence, understand their rights and resolve conflicts amicably.
Folaranmi, while pointing out that the programme is envisioned to run for three years, commencing with pilot schools in Yenagoa, added that it would extend to the other seven local government areas and Niger Delta states.
“The Shielded Schools Initiative (SSI) is a flagship programme of Shielded Lives Initiative (SLI) designed as a series of practical, school-based workshops aimed at promoting safer schools and empowering young people across Bayelsa State, with a longer-term vision of expanding to other parts of the Niger Delta.
‘’The initiative recognises that schools are not only places for academic learning, but also important environments for teaching children and young people about their rights, personal safety, respect, peaceful conflict resolution and responsible behaviour.
‘’Through interactive workshops, students will learn to recognise different forms of violence—including physical, emotional, psychological, sexual and online violence—understand boundaries, develop communication and empathy skills, manage conflicts peacefully, and know when and how to seek help when they feel unsafe.
‘’The programme also seeks to establish Peace and Human Rights Clubs in participating schools and develop Shielded Schools Peace Ambassadors who can promote positive behaviour, respect, inclusion and peaceful relationships among their peers.
‘’The first phase will focus on selected secondary schools in Yenagoa and other parts of Bayelsa State during the 2026/2027 academic year. The programme is envisioned as a three-year initiative, beginning with pilot schools, expanding to additional local government areas and ultimately creating a model that can be replicated across the Niger Delta’’ she stated
Folaranmi solicited partnerships and funding support from government agencies, development organisations, foundations, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to expand the programme, reach more schools, train facilitators, establish school clubs, develop educational materials and strengthen monitoring and evaluation.
‘’The ultimate goal is to contribute to a generation of young people who are informed about their rights, confident in speaking up, equipped to prevent violence, capable of resolving conflicts peacefully and committed to creating safer and more compassionate communities,’’ she stressed.
Also speaking in an interview, a senior teacher, Comrade Ebi Charles, commended SLI for organising the workshop, noting that it has greatly impacted the students positively.
She assured that the school would build on the skills and knowledge the students have learned from the workshop.
“Shielded Lives Initiative was able to impact the students’ knowledge. We promise to continue from where it stopped.
‘’ We have been able to form our Peace Ambassadors Club. The workshop will change the lifestyle of the students positively, and the students will go further to influence their classmates and other students to avoid violence and bullying.’’
