By William Rui

On November 8th, members of the Criminal Justice Club went on an experience to the GPF branch in Kenya for the purpose of encouraging this active engagement of community harmony for the big idea of peacebuilding processes. A real good opportunity to share with professionals who work for harmony and social cohesion for various communities.

The Global Peace Foundation is an international nonprofit organization founded in the year 2009. Inspired by the vision of One Family under God, the organization advances a new, values-based approach to peacebuilding. The Global Peace Foundation mobilizes and orchestrates a global network of partners in the public and private sectors that build community, national, and regional peacebuilding models which become the cornerstone for ethical and cohesive societies. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., GPF works globally but concentrates its work in several key areas of social change: education, peacebuilding, environmental conservation, and youth development. In Africa, the organization has branches that work in different fields: Tanzania works on peace initiatives, Nigeria is into peacebuilding, Uganda focuses on family issues, while Kenya's signature is education.

These include critically important programs discussed, among which several educational initiatives take center stage. Such initiatives include the LEAP Hubs that seek to provide Kenyan high school leavers with the necessary entrepreneurship skills to compete favorably in the current job market; the hubs add innovativeness and creativity, thereby enhancing appeal and relevance to education. Another effort along these lines is the program Great Places to School, which works to make schools places that promote both student well-being and successful learning.

The members of the criminal justice club established that largely through the Kenya Daima Initiative, GPF has contributed greatly toward ensuring peace in the country. The initiative has been proof of a very essential secretariat in facilitating peaceful and tranquil elections.

Emphasizing counter-extremism measures, one also pointed out how GPF works together with the UN on various initiatives pointing toward violence prevention. This is yet another indication that community involvement is a highly regarded approach in the pursuit of sustaining peace. On the environmental aspect, the members updated on the status of the Chandaria Tree Nursery Project, proof that GPF is committed to environmental conservation. In addressing global warming and ecologically sustainable environments, trees are planted and cared for in large numbers under this project. This project also relates to the vision that GPF has in making the world a more sustainable and greener place.

Another key focus area for GPF is youth development.

An exemplary initiative is the Presidential Fellowship Program, which constructively involves the youths through training in entrepreneurship, business incubation, and mentorship. The program also plays a vital role in the rehabilitation and reintegration of persons into society through its promotion of visits to correctional facilities and facilitation of donation drives. The prevention of violent extremism is among the chief areas of concern of the organization.

This quality time spent in training empowers young people to overcome radical ideologies by using community-based activities that create an indelible mark through awareness. In this meeting, the possibility of cooperation between GPF and academics, especially regarding big conferences and events, was underlined. With more young minds and academic acumen on board, such cooperation might catapult their efforts at GPF to greater heights.

The future of GPF's projects and the function of young leaders in promoting peace and development were the topics of conversation before the visit came to an end. The group indicated a desire to increase PVE training in USIU-A, which the Criminal Justice Club believed was especially pertinent and promising for enabling students to promote safety and peace in their local communities.
The Criminal Justice Club members had a profound appreciation for the vast amount of work being done to promote a more sustainable and peaceful world after their visit to the Global Peace Foundation. In addition to deepening their comprehension of GPF's influence, this interaction motivated them to investigate the ways in which legal professionals may support social change.