Dear URI Cooperation Circles,
It is with great joy and hope for peace and development in Nigeria that I come to you to announce that four groups from this African country have been approved as URI Cooperation Circles.
As I prepared the applications for the CC Approval Committee meeting, I could see the results of the excellent collaborative work between Hon. Elisha Buba Yero -- URI’s Global Council Trustee in Nigeria -- CC leaders, local staff member Emmanuel Ivorgba and Continental Coordinator Mussie Hailu. In addition, the members of one of these groups said they had learned about URI through our dear former Trustee Pele, who today is a part of our Celestial CC.
URI’s Global Network now includes 577 Cooperation Circles in 83 countries. A brief description of the work of these new CCs appears below.
AFRICA
Based in Otukpo, Nigeria, this Cooperation Circle is dedicated to empowering young people with leadership skills, enabling them to find their identities and create positive social change in their lives and the lives of others in their communities. The group has welcomed young people into its Early and Youth Leadership Training and Community Development Ambassadors programs, provided computer and tailoring skills training and reaches more than 1 million active listeners through a youth radio program.
This CC, based in Nigeria’s Bauchi State, is a non-profit organization working to promote quality health care, environmental education and management, leadership development and youth interfaith communication and integration. Founded in 2008 as a youth group, the organization has supported grassroots organizations and school groups in identifying, analyzing and setting priorities for participatory actions.
Located in Jos, Nigeria, and born of the religiously-motivated crisis that previously engulfed the region, this CC works to promote social interaction among people of different beliefs. The group is committed to reconciliation, post-traumatic healing and counseling, and provides skills acquisition training and civic education for the public.
This Otukpo, Nigeria-based CC is dedicated to building strong relationships for human development. The group has organized community dialogue among government officials, religious leaders, women and youth, led rallies and networked with other organizations to commemorate Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace.
If you wish to extend your warm wishes to any of these new groups, please click on the links for their CC pages.
May Peace Prevail in Nigeria!
May Peace Prevail on Earth!
With much appreciation,
Maria Crespo
on behalf of the URI CC Approval Committee
