Lenga Ugaidi Na Talanta competition 2018

The Center for Sustainable Conflict Resolution (CSCR) launched Lenga Ugaidi Na Talanta, 2018 edition on 1^st October 2018 at the HORN Institute premises. Lenga Ugaidi na Talanta is an initiative that seeks to channel youth creativity towards countering violent extremists’ narratives. The competition is a contest, targeting Kenyan youth participants (under 35 years) in the fight against radicalization and violent extremism. The contest involves development of short films, songs and poems in countering the VE narrative in specific thematic areas.

In accordance with its mission and objectives, the Centre for Sustainable Conflict Resolution (CSCR) through its flagship programme Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism (BRAVE) in partnership with HORN institute, Global Network of Religion for Children (GNRC), Epuka Ugaidi, and Nuvision introduced the programme for the youth through talent and in language they understand. The programme also seeks to promote the voices of youth in countering narratives of, radicalized groups, recruitment and violent extremism through talent. Mobilization to participate in the competition is online, through Twitter, Facebook, website and other social media platforms. Brochures are also prepared to be distributed in the institution of learning, and youth organizations and clubs.

The competition will be guided by the following five broad themes:

1. Peer responsibility (Identifying early warning signs of radicalization among peers)
2. How to effectively and responsibly respond in the unfortunate event of terror attacks
3. The role of social media in Radicalization and Terrorism
4. How terrorists lure and use women and children and the role of women and children in counter terrorism
5. The true meaning of jihad

Objectives

The objectives are as follows;

1. Allow the youth to spearhead the counter-radicalization conversation through talent/art in their own language and understanding, thus allow greater receptivity
2. Engage the youth actively in the fight against radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism as it has been traditionally by the Government, NGO’s and Religious institutions
3. Create awareness and initiate continuous conversation by the youth on violent extremism.

Lenga Ugaidi Na Talanta competition 2017

Lenga Ugaidi Na Talanta is a competition targeting Kenyan youth to create messages aimed at countering radicalization and extremist narratives through film and arts. The first chapter of the competition was launched in 2017 with the main objective to allow the youth to spearhead counter radicalization efforts through talent. The chapter was successful with over 500 submissions that culminated in a winners Gala held at the Norfolk Hotel.

In accord with its mission and objectives, the Centre for Sustainable Conflict Resolution/BRAVE in partnership with National Counter Terrorism Centre as well as other partners, Epuka Ugaidi, Nuvision and Nailab came up with the competition titled Lenga Ugaidi Na Talanta. The competition sought to promote fight against al-Shabaab and other VEOs through film and storytelling. The organizations invited youth to take part in the competition guided by three broad themes: youth responsibility in Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), the changing face of terrorism and faith based institutions and communities.

This competition was focused on the youth under the age of 30 years. Participants were supposed to create short films/clips of not more than five minutes focusing on the highlighted themes. The competition ran from April to June, 2017.

The objectives of the project were as follows:

• Allow the youth to spearhead the counter-radicalization conversation through talent/art in their own language and understanding, thus allow greater receptivity
• Engage the youth actively in the fight against radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism as it has been traditionally by the Government, NGO’s and Religious institutions
• Create awareness and initiate continuous conversation by the youth on Al Shabaab recruitment