As the crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) continues to unfold, it’s never been more important to amplify the voices of brave young peacebuilders.
Our recent initiative asked young artists in Bangui, CAR to draw posters focusing on themes of peace, forgiveness, and dialogue. Submissions from over 200 local artists poured in, symbolizing their visions for their country. Below are the images and words from five of the winners that demonstrate not only their expressive talent, but also their incredible honesty, resilience, and hope for the future.
Q: Why did you participate in this contest?
“I participated in this contest to help free my country from violence and from the crises that it is going through. I want to disarm hearts and minds of Central Africans so that a process of reconciliation can be started.”
“We all have something to say about what’s happening in Central Africa, and for me this campaign is one of the only possible and reliable ways to pass a strong message to the different communities. I participated in this contest not in order to win a prize but to try to win the heart of Central Africans so that they cultivate peace in their heart, which has no price.”
Q: How have you been affected by the conflict as a young person living in CAR?
“Because of this conflict, I have not been able to work, produce, and sell my art as I would usually do. As such, I am not able to feed my family anymore. This conflict has destroyed the CAR population. What I feel is fear, and I am afraid of dying. The death of close ones also scares me.”
“This crisis has affected the lives of most Central Africans. This I realized when I saw two of my CAR brothers who share the same blood start fighting against one another and destroy the good of their own nation. This is why I want to tell them that it is not with violence that we are going to construct our country. Instead, we need to make peace with our brothers and sisters. As a young Central African, I feel I have the duty and right to participate in the sensitization of the CAR population to bring peace and guarantee the future of CAR.”
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Q: What is your vision for CAR in the future?
“I envision a country where the development and the good use of resources is possible and where CAR has become a peaceful nation.”
“My strongest hope is to see Central Africans stand up together to build pace in its full diversity. Because it is by holding each other’s hand – younger and older ones – that we will see a positive evolution in our country.”
“I would like to see a CAR where all ethnicities and religions will interact with one another in a spirit of friendship and brotherhood.”
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We printed 2500 copies of the winning posters and organized a ceremony to kick off a “poster campaign.” The Minister of Communication and National Reconciliation took part in the ceremony, and copies of the posters have been hung throughout Bangui and shared on social media.
This poster contest was part of a Search for Common Ground project in CAR called “Ensemble pour un Dialogue Interconfessionnel Apaisé et promotion la Paix à Bangui.”