By Nkosinomusa Linda Sibanda

In celebration of 375th anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia, the City of Osnabrück and GDL members Elsa Marie D’Silva, Nurana Mammadova, Theresa Carrington, Ghada Zribi and Fabrice Muchiga, hosted the Youth Empowerment Lab 2023 in Osnabrück from 29 October to the 3 November 2023 to amplify the voices of young people and offer them a platform for constructive dialogue. The Youth Empowerment Lab equips young emerging peace makers with innovative tools and methodologies to drive change within their communities and beyond and fosters global collaboration among young minds dedicated to cultivating peace.

My name is Nkosinomusa Linda Sibanda and I am 27 years old. I am the youngest of three children born to the late Mr and Mrs Sibanda in a small town called Victoria Falls. I hold a Diploma in Social Work and have been serving as the Voluntary Projects Manager at a local trust called Trovoco since February 2019. Additionally, I am a Trustee in a consortium called the Resident Charter for Africa Initiatives. I also serve as a ZELA Youth and a YICA ambassador.

Thanks to ZELA and TDH, I had the opportunity to apply for the Global Empowerment Youth Lab. I was chosen to represent the ZELA Youth Network. I’d like to share my journey and explain how the Youth Empowerment Lab has changed my life and my perspective on the world.

I am always eager to learn about leadership, public speaking, and community building. These skills are crucial in Peacebuilding and Advocacy – a cause that is close to my heart. My interests revolve around making a positive impact in the world, fuelled by my energy for creating change, which is why I eagerly anticipated the knowledge and insights I would gain from these intense 6 days in Osnabrück.

“She handed me a book and insisted that I keep it.”

Above everything else, it was my first time in Germany. Stepping out into the cold streets of the City of Osnabruck, I was touched by the kindness of the people. Something extraordinary happened on my first morning in the city, when a beautiful elderly lady approached me while I was getting coffee with my roommate. She asked if I spoke English. I exclaimed, “Yes!” She then said, ’’Read this.’’ Hereupon, she handed me a book called Where are you now? She insisted I keep it and said she knew what it is like to be away from home. She wanted me to know that home is where my heart is. This interaction with the woman instantly transformed my perspective on the people and culture of Germany. The simple act of kindness and connection had a profound and lasting impact on me and made me feel even more that I was exactly where I was meant to be and that I belonged. In the following days, I aimed to extend the same kindness to all the other 29 youth participants from 22 countries.

The group of youth participants is welcomed at the Osnabrück townhall

The Lab commenced at the townhall of the City of Osnabruck, inaugurated by the mayor Katharina Pötter. She introduced us to the Peace Treaty of Westphalia, and taught us about its historical significance, and how it ended a war that took over 16 million lives across Europe spanning over 30 years.

Throughout the Lab, we engaged in leadership training, public speaking lessons by GDL Member Shawgi Omer Nawai from Sudan, and practical lessons on effective leadership, emphasising the importance of empathy in building relationships and communities. A session on “AI for Peace”, hosted by GDL Member Khaldun Al Saadi and Dr Tim C. Kietzmann enlightened us on utilizing AI tools for Peacebuilding. GDL member Fabrice Muchiga from the D.R. Congo led engaging discussions on topics such as Partnership for Peace, Theory of Change and Drivers of Peace. GDL Member Nurana Mammadova led the team-building exercise “Win as you go”, that emphasised negotiation skills and the importance of collaboration in advocacy.

Participants visit PARASTOU FOROUHAR’s, “The Eyes”, since 2018. Exhibition view of Felix-Nussbaum-Haus in the Museumsquartier Osnabrück, Photo © Angela von Brill, 2023

The theatre workshop was a good equaliser in between the dense input during the Lab

Every day, we explored various topics, sharing and learning about each other’s cultures and backgrounds. Activities like visiting the Library, Museum, and University of Osnabrück, along with plenary sessions featuring inspiring personalities such as Dr Monika Hauser, enriched our discussions and enhanced our understanding of the local culture and perspective on the world. The cultural night was my personal highlight and a memorable experience, when I proudly wore my Ndebele Queen outfit, making a grand entrance amidst cheers and admiration. It was a proud moment showcasing my culture in a new light.

Nkosie presents her group’s AI-generated results for the AI for Peace workshop

Presenting the “Projects for Peace” at the plenary haal in Osnabrück

“Peace embodies understanding, acceptance, and connectedness – qualities fostered during my time at the Lab.”

After days of inspiring input, discussions, and site visits, we formed groups to work on project ideas for “Projects for Peace”. My group’s project focused on “Making the Invisible Visible: Unmasking Invisible Disabilities,” inspired by our group member, Fiamma from Uruguay, who lives with a rare, invisible disability. Our aim was to raise awareness about Invisible Disabilities, highlighting that 1.5 billion people worldwide live with disabilities, not all visible. Our project aimed to transform perceptions and foster community involvement. The group work culminated in a townhall with guests and important political representatives like Hans-Gert Pottering, Former President of the European Parliament and Wolfgang Beckermann, the Deputy Mayor of Osnabrück. The crucial element was to ensure these projects weren’t confined to presentations, but to be implemented in local initiatives. Our patron Hans-Gert Pöttering expressed hope for the future through these initiatives. The GDL’s commitment to monitoring these projects for real-world impact reflects the spirit of the Peace of Westphalia, extending beyond its 375th anniversary. For me, Peace embodies understanding, acceptance, and connectedness – qualities fostered during my time at the Lab, proving invaluable in everyday life.

The organising team, including Jasmin Osmanovic and Lea Hochstrat from the City of Osnabrück, Corinna and Johanna from the GDL Secretariat, as well as the GDL Members Elsa, Rudrani, Ghada, Patrick, Nurana, Shawgi and Khaldun made us feel valued and safe, exhibiting warmth in every interaction.

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Author: Nkosinomusa Linda Sibanda
Editor: Svenja Prigge

Photos: © Angela von Brill