Mombasa, February 06, 2020_ Kenya Community Support Center (Kecosce) will be conducting a training on expanding awareness to inhibit violent extremism in the coast of Kenya to local Community journalist. The event will take place at Turtle Bay Hotel in Watamu from 9^th to 12^th of February 2020.

The local community radios are uniquely positioned to bring communities together and foster positive dialogue for change, conveying important information and raising awareness on important issues. The training workshop is for local community journalist to gain more knowledge on the issue of violent extremism and how they can sensitize and create awareness on the same through their radio programs.

In recent years, the world has witnessed new waves of violent extremism that have taken the lives of many innocent people. Whether based on religious, ethnic or political grounds, extremist ideologies oppose a more tolerant and inclusive society. Experiences in both development and peacebuilding show that an increase in the levels of inclusion and tolerance in communities can lead to both better governance of diversity, and to societies protected against violent extremism. It is in this regard that we have chosen to train the community journalist as they are the bigger voice at community level.

Commenting on the training, Executive Director at Kenya Community Support Center, Ms. Phyllis Muema said: “The Role of Community media in creating awareness, mobilizing local communities to take action to prevent and counter recruitment to violent extremism, sharing of information, cooperation and collaboration is very central to preventing and countering violent extremism in Kenya. Community radios programming of PCVE will further promote grass roots efforts to advance tolerance.”

KECOSCE is a local non-governmental organization that addresses democratic governance, socio-economic and youth concerns with a focus on the Coast of Kenya. The Organization is very passionate about promoting peaceful co-existence, good governance and sustainable social economic development. Kecosce has for the last eight years, implemented peace, security and human rights projects in the Coastal region Kenya. Its efforts are majorly at both local and national levels. The organization strongly believes that the local communities represent the best defense against violent extremist ideologies.

The organization will be launching its Manual on the last day of the training, please make sure to pick a copy as it highlights more information on the topic.

Press contact:

Mr. Maxwell Lumbasi, Project lead ([email protected]), Tel: 0716 777230

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