When our project team first met with members of one community in Kaduna state five years ago, they heard about serious challenges: tensions and lack of contact between Christians and Muslims; a history of youth being recruited into political violence; violent clashes between farmers and herders; and attacks by armed bandits who kidnapped community members for ransom.

Through the peacebuilding structures established and nurtured through the Protecting Our Communities Initiative, community members learned to better identify and respond to early warning signs of the conflicts and threats they faced. Some community members learned how to facilitate dialogues, to rebuild trust and address tensions; others learned how to do outreach or advocacy, or provide psychological first aid after an incident of violence.

The value of these community-based peacebuilding systems became apparent when, in August 2024, huge protests were planned across the entirety of Nigeria. To prepare for the potential that violence could take place, members of this community’s “early warning-early response” committee set up a network of 76 volunteers to monitor neighborhoods for any threats. Youth leaders met with potential protesters, to talk through scenarios and help them think about their involvement and the risks. As the 10 days of protest unfolded, many people in other parts of the country lost their lives and more than a thousand were arrested. But this particular community — once a hotspot for communal violence — was so successful in preventing protest-related violence that the Governor and other state officials visited to applaud their violence prevention efforts.

Members of this community, who had been at odds during a very difficult land dispute, celebrate together after resolving the dispute using dialogue techniques learned through our Protecting Our Communities Initiative.

The impacts of community members’ work for peace extends far beyond any particular incident as they rebuild trust across social divides, repair relationships, and encourage inclusion of all voices. For context: throughout the 18 communities engaged in the Protecting Our Communities Initiative, local peacebuilding systems have resolved more than 1,100 incidents that could have sparked broader violence.

Here is what some members of this particular community have said about their local peacebuilding systems:

“We’ve learned that the police are not the first option of resolving issues… As it is now, we engage in dialogue among ourselves.”

“Everyone, including women and orphans, now have a voice. They are allowed to express their thoughts and come to agreement so that decision making is the responsibility of all.”

“We’ve experienced relative peace between cattle rearers and farmers… Communal clashes have also reduced. Anytime there’s an attempt to cause a communal clash, there’s always someone to calm the situation.”

“We can now sleep with our two eyes closed.”