By Alvin Lansana Kargbo

SHE4Peace, in collaboration with other youth-led organizations, commemorated International Peace Day on Saturday 27th September,  2025, with a Peace Walk from PZ to Cotton Tree under the theme: “Act Now, Lead Together: Building Peace through Youth and Women’s Voices.”

The initiative brought together hundreds of young people, Civil Society representatives and peace advocates, all calling for unity, tolerance and non-violence in Sierra Leone.

Speaking during the event, Nyanda Emma Hamilton the legal representative of SHE4Peace said the walk was intended to promote a culture of peace and unity, particularly among young people. She stressed that Sierra Leone’s history of conflict remains a reminder of why peace must be safeguarded by all, not just the Government.  Nyanda Emma Hamilton noted that participants carried placards bearing messages of peace, with the aim of taking those messages back into homes, schools, communities and workplaces.

“When peace prevails, people can move freely, businesses thrive and children can go to school,” she said. “But when peace is absent, fear and disruption take over, undermining development.” She also recommended that future peace walks be decentralized, allowing districts outside Freetown to organize simultaneous events.

Desrica Taylor of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-SL) commended SHE4Peace for leading the celebration. She said Peace Day is a reminder of Sierra Leone’s shared humanity at a time when the nation faces political polarization, unemployment, gender inequality and climate-induced challenges.

“Peace is not only the absence of war but also the presence of justice, fairness and opportunity,” Desrica Taylor said, emphasizing the need for education, employment and non-violent conflict resolution. She highlighted WANEP-SL’s work in dialogue, mediation and civic education, and called for greater investment in preventive peacebuilding and youth and women’s participation in national decision-making.

Alie Barrie, President of the Freetown Peace Club, underscored the importance of cultivating inner peace as a foundation for reconciliation. He noted that young people face immense social pressures, including drug misuse, which can push them away from realizing their full potential.

“Without peace, nothing is possible,” Ali Barrie said, urging young people to embrace peace in their daily lives and communities.

National Youth Ambassador, Amb. Bilkisu Jalloh praised the collaborative spirit of the Peace Walk. She reminded participants that global and regional bodies, including the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS, continue to underscore the value of living in harmony.

“Peace begins with the individual. If we all commit to it, Sierra Leone can thrive,” she said. Amb. Bilkisu Jalloh also stressed the role of education in peacebuilding, adding that unity between men and women is critical to national development.

The Peace Walk concluded with renewed calls for Sierra Leoneans to embrace tolerance, dialogue and solidarity as the foundation for a stable and prosperous future. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/she4peace-leads-international-peace-day-walk-calls-for-unity-and-non-violence/