Lesson 10: HOW FUTURE SEARCH SAVE LIVES

I Dream of Peace - A Future Search for the Children of Southern Sudan.
By Gillian Wilcox, Operation Lifeline Sudan, Southern Sector, Information Officer

Nairobi, Kenya, November, 1999: A UNICEF-sponsored effort called Operation Lifeline Sudan invited children and adults in November, 1999, to take part in a future search to address the crisis of losing a generation of children to the turmoil of a brutal civil war. To allow the children's voices to be heard, the main future search was preceded by a future search for children only. About 40 children, ages 13 - 17, (accompanied by their teachers) participated. Most of these children had suffered displacement and separation from their families as a result of the war, and some even fought in the war.

""When participants talked about what they were proud of, it was apparent that people have tried, under very difficult circumstances to improve their lives."

Though the children were poorly educated, a legacy of the war, all had something positive and unique to contribute and all of them were able to work together, with a little help from translators, to analyze their past and present and to develop their vision of a future that they would carry into the main conference. The message they developed was very focused and very clear--Children want peace, they want access to health services, and - above all - they want to go to school and learn.

The Adult Conference

Once the adult participants understood the rationale of the conference and how it was going to be different from traditional meetings, they threw themselves into the tasks. Given the deeply painful past they all shared, which included bitter conflicts between some of the different ethnic groups in the room, the ease with which they focused was impressive.

Every participant had suffered trauma and loss as a result of the war.

This was reflected in the time-line drawn by the group. Personal tragedies-the loss of children, parents or siblings; bombing of schools; fleeing in terror from attacks-were all included in the timeline. The list of sorries included the helplessness of parents unable to provide for their families during the famine. When participants talked about what they were proud of, it was apparent that people have tried, under very difficult circumstances to improve their lives.

One impressive story was related by the stakeholder group of tribal chiefs. Looking striking in their traditional costumes and using three different languages to communicate with each other, the chiefs told of the attempts they are making to forge reconciliation between the Dinka and Nuer tribes. The dream of the future for children created by the main conference was striking in its similarity to the dream of the children.

Peace and reconciliation came out very strongly, as did the pressing need for education and health services. The adults also identified one other issue which for them is key to securing a better future for Southern Sudan's children: good governance, with accountable structures respecting human rights.

Outcomes

UNICEF hopes that these future searches will mark the start of a process that will place the lives of all Southern Sudan's children outside the context of political differences, and allow everyone to make a contribution to improve their lives. At the conference, Sudanese living outside Sudan (expatriates from the UK, and South and West Africa) joined in the plan to develop curriculum material and deliver textbooks to villages over the next two years. Another task force said it would identify community members inside Sudan with existing teaching skills. A third group talked about training courses for agriculturists and farmers, while the health care professionals collaborated to work with local citizens to erect buildings to be used as centers. The children formed groups and talked about what they wanted to tell people back home about their experience in Nairobi and the kinds of gatherings they could arrange. On a personal note, one boy, from Yambio was recognized by one of the adult participants, who told him his mother was alive and well and living in Khartoum. Subsequently, UNICEF arranged for him to send a letter to her and she replied to him - the first contact between them since they were separated by war10 years ago.

REFLECTION:

Future search is a tool for people to share their experiences without any biased and prejudiced comments. The people were able to express their own stories, which were a tool in finding a solution for their needs. In my opinion, a conference put into good use is really commendable. Their conversations were put into good use and the people were able to state their desire for peace, education and good health.

By: Vina Almeda

http://www.futuresearch.net/method/applications/world/africa/dream_of_peace.cfm