Peace Education and Computer Training (PECT) allows refugees in Meheba to learn the basics of computer literacy and to study peace in formal discussions about non-violent communication and conflict resolution. The two PECT Instructors use solar-powered laptops to train refugee women, men and youth on how to use Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. On days when they are not teaching about computers, the trained Instructors host discussions to explore topics such as non-violent communication and conflict resolution.

In addition to funding a year of the project’s operations, this budget includes capital investments that will allow PECT to be financially self-sustaining into the future. The Project Coordinators have devised a proposal that, with the purchase of an Internet modem, will fully fund the project from here on out. Additionally, if funded, PECT will bring the first public Internet connection into Meheba Refugee Settlement, revolutionizing the community’s access to information and allowing them to find their own answers to questions regarding their health, human rights, and educational opportunities. The projected popularity of this venture is high, suggesting that the project could run unassisted for years after FORGE finishes its work in Meheba.

Meheba Refugee Settlement is located on 700 square kilometers in the Northwestern Province of Zambia. At the peak of its population, Meheba Settlement provided refuge for 120,000 refugees. Today, it is home to over 13,000 refugees from the DR Congo, Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, and Sudan.

In violation of the United Nations’ Geneva Convention, Zambia does not allow refugees freedom of employment or movement. As a result, refugees found living outside camp grounds are imprisoned and deprived of access to legal representation.

However, conditions in the Meheeba settlement are also difficult. Although refugees are given land to cultivate, the potential income earned from their farming is curbed by improper tools, expensive fertilizer, and poor soil quality. In addition, the settlement's aid provisions have been used without a stable means of replacing them. With limited options and depleted resources, refugees have been marginalized and left in a largely hopeless situation.

One of the primary struggles that Meheba's refugees face is obtaining proper medical care. Areas of the settlement are left neglected because of their distance from clinics. In addition, limited educational opportunities compounds illnesses by leaving the population ignorant of preventive techniques and basic treatments. However, FORGE Health Service recognizes that Meheba Refugee Camp offers an opportunity to invest in individuals and is working to achieve change that will endure beyond the borders of the Meheba settlement.

Community member details not available yet.

Direct Impact of Your Project

PECT’s services directly impact a total of almost 300 computer and peace students across the Meheba Settlement each year. Computer classes are held for men, for women, and for youth. Forums on peace education are held in several of Meheba’s primary schools, and are open to adults and children alike. When community conflicts or disagreements occur, the PECT Instructors act as moderators and non-violence facilitators, helping to ensure that all conflicts are worked out before violence erupts.

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

By offering conflict resolution and mediation services, the FORGE Peace Education and Computer Training Center creates a culture of peace and understanding that impacts the entire community. Any groups or individuals that are experiencing conflict know that they can rely on the training and services offered by PECT to help them resolve their issues.

Further, the computer classes are open to the entire community, so everyone has the opportunity to learn this key job skill. FORGE has seen that computer skills are highly transferable, and that even one person with computer skills in a community can pass that knowledge to many.