Annual Training Program “Hundred Women, Youth for Peace and Security” (HWY4PS)
The Hundred Women, Youth for Peace and Security (HWY4PS) Annual Training Program is an initiative of the African Peacekeeping Network - Benin session (RAMP-BENIN). This initiative, supported by the SIPODI Program, took place from July to September 2024 in three major cities in Benin: Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi and Parakou.
The objective of the program was to strengthen the capacities of 100 young people, including 75 men and 25 women, in the areas of security, peace, and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. To this end, nine training sessions were organized, delivered by experts, university researchers, and senior officials specializing in peace and security issues.
Objectives and Impact
The initiative aimed to equip young people with the knowledge and tools they need to prevent their vulnerability to terrorist and extremist networks, by raising their awareness of security issues and strengthening their resilience.
The training concluded with an official ceremony held on September 21 in Abomey-Calavi to mark the International Day of Peace. The ceremony was attended by a delegation from the SIPODI Program, led by Dr. Tobias Ruettershoff, Director of the SIPODI Program, and Adelis Yapi, SIPODI Program Manager.
Closing Ceremony and Commitments
Several speeches were made during the ceremony. Dr. Tobias Ruettershoff expressed the satisfaction of the KAS with the commitment of the young participants in the fight against these societal threats and encouraged RAMP-BENIN to continue its awareness-raising work for the promotion of peace and security.
The local coordinator of RAMP-BENIN, Mr. AHOTON Rock, thanked KAS for its trust and support in this strategic project. He pledged to replicate this initiative in the various representations of his organization.
All participants received a training certificate in recognition of their efforts and their commitment to peace and security. Commissioner Abdoul-Hazizou Bah, representing the Ministry of Security, welcomed the initiative and expressed the Beninese government's gratitude to KAS for its constant support to Beninese youth in the fight against terrorism.
In addition to the direct beneficiaries, the ceremony brought together several young people from other organizations, as well as representatives of institutions such as ECOWAS (with the participation of the Political Advisor to the ECOWAS Representative in Benin, Mamadou Konaté) and IDD. The event ended in a friendly atmosphere, fostering enriching exchanges between participants and thus strengthening ties in the common quest for a more secure environment, a key commitment of the SIPODI Program.
