By Landing Colley
The Executive Director of Beakanyang has disclosed plans to make their Badingbung (family house) Initiative a permanent local structure in the Upper River Region.
Mr.Nfamara Jawneh was speaking recently at Taibatou Village in Wuli West District of URR at an assessment meeting of the project that gave birth to Badingbung.
According to him, with the successes registered by the initiative such as restoring many broken relations, reduction of village level conflicts, amplifying the voices of victims of human rights violations just to a few are all the more reason why the initiative must stay and further strengthen.
According to Jawneh, the lessons they have learned was that the whole Badingbung Concept resonates very well with communities and is fostering social cohesion and peace in the communities.
The assessment meeting brought together Badingbung Community Facilitators and some beneficiaries/victims of human rights violations under the former regime.
Speaking earlier, Alahgie Bemba Jabby, the Chairman of Badingbung commended Beakanyang for initiating such an important project which has now being transformed into a permanent programme.
“It’s also important that we come together as key players in this to evaluate ourselves by going back to the project goal, objectives and outcomes and that is exactly why we are gathered here today,” he said.
For her part, Mrs. Sona Jawo, a beneficiary from Tambasansang in Tumana applauded Beakanyang for Badingbung project.
Alhagie Karamo Dibassy of Sandu Jakaba said the number of broken relations that they have successfully resolved using the Badingbung model are many.
“We are happy that the concept is bring religious dimension to the mediation which I think is helping us resolve more problems and mitigating much more,” says Vice Chairman Oustass Makeh Jagne.
Oustass Yaya Sumareh the immediate past board chairman of Beakanayng thanked Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund for supporting the Badingbung Initiative.
He called for more involvement of young people in the Badingbung initiative to help more youth to also benefit from the opportunities the model offers in maintaining peace.