Connecting through Schools: Peace building in the Southern Ethiopia

Over 3,000 people from Borena and Konso community are gathered at Bule Dembi School waiting for the guests they invited. Students have formed a long double-stranded lines of about 500 meters; several groups of men and women perform music and art based on the cultures of Borena and Konso. For someone who is new to the area, it is not possible to differentiate the two ethnic groups. As my team and I arrived at the site, groups of people continued to flood with their songs and spectacular dancing. Some members of the flooding groups carry food and drinks for the celebration.

Fig 1: Students lining to receive the guests

Teltele, 665km south of Addis Ababa experienced devastating violence between Borena and Konso ethnic groups in February 2008. Conflict, livelihoods and humanitarian experts from Oxfam America (OA), Gayo Pastoralist Development Initiative (GPDI) and Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) went to Teltele (Borena Zone of Oromia Region in Ethiopia) to carry out assessment of the impact of the conflict between the two ethnic groups. The assessment revealed that the conflict forced 27,000 people to flee; death of over 55 people, destruction of 2,020 houses, loss or looting of community assets (Livestock, crop), and destruction of public services such as water supply, schools, health centers and development agents’ offices.

Following the assessment, Oxfam America funded GPDI and Oromo Pastoralist Association (OPA) to connect the two communities through school. The reconciliation and dialogue between the community elders and government was carried out by OPA whereas GPDI constructed the school along with the communities from both ethnicities. The project benefited the communities in two-folds – i) augmenting solidarity and cohesion as well as linking formal and customary institution on peace building and ii) integrating the peace process in the learning systems all the way from young to old age.

The songs, arts and dances are overwhelming. I tried to understand the lyrics of the music but my attempt was in vain. The only thing I managed to take a note was words of appreciation to “Gayo” – the local NGOs/OPA and GPDI that implemented the project. Happiness, faith, courage and confidence are in the faces and minds of everyone taking part in the celebration.

Fig 2: Borena Men’s singing and dancing

Fig 3: Konso communities’ art and dancing on the occasion

?“Teltele used to be a productive place; but now God cursed it due to the immoral conflict between Borana and Konso and as a result, it is hit by successive droughts. The two communities have long been living together with mutual respect due to their historical, cultural and religious harmony. Today is a blessed day though; you got rain in this very day; ‘cause both people are dancing and rejoicing together; have reconciled their difference.?The God of peace has now forgiven you; as you have forgiven each other.” Guyo Goba (Aba Geda; Current president of the Geda System in Borana)

?These ambitious milestones were planned with a very small amount of dollars - $30k. Many people from government offices were concerned about whether this money could achieve the anticipated targets. Mr. Dawit Jarso (Delegate of Borena Zone Administrator) on his speech remembered that he and his colleagues were really arguing over the adequacy of the money. GPDI leaders were confident and they were able to mobilize the community members to contribute locally available resources including labor, sand, stone, wood, water etc to implement the project. This has made Mr. Dawit and the rest of the government team to witness the importance of community participation in local development and peace building.

Fig 4: Borana and Konso Students celebrating and showing arts

After visiting the school, elders did blessings by using the traditional coffee ceremony called ‘buna qalee’. Later, Mr. Dembala Godana, chairman of the Pastoralist Association (PA) was invited to present the project report. This may be the first of its kind for me when communities present their project reports clearly confirming that they are the owners of the project.

"The project conducted two peace dialogues, constructed the school, toilets and the school compound as well as furnished the school with chairs, tables; blackboards etc. Community participation was very high from Bule Dembi PA and other PAs. About 3,000 men and 2,500 women from Teltele district participated in the construction which represents 75% of the total population. The contributions of the community includes labor (transporting construction materials, fetching water, fencing and cleaning the compound, digging ditches for making the walls and for toilet), sand, wooden materials, water etc. The people are committed to maintain this momentum and continue these kinds of collaboration to end poverty.”

Mr. Dembela Godana

Fig 5: Elders blessing coffee ceremony

Galgalo Guyo, GPDI’s Field Program Manager, said, “the school is an important connector that can promote lasting peace. Many people were concerned about the size of the budget; but we were able to mobilize the stakeholders and implement the project. We proved that any project without community participation cannot be sustainable and cost-effective.”