Peace that excludes women is incomplete. Development that overlooks persons with disabilities is unsustainable. These are not just principles, they are the foundation of YARAC’s work in Kihang-Buhit Community, and they came to life in a recent Capacity Building Training on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).
The training reached 50 female farmers, herders, and traders from Kihang-Buhit Community in Bassa LGA, Plateau State – women who are often at the center of community life but too rarely at the center of decision-making.
What the Training Addressed
The sessions focused on three interconnected goals: increasing awareness of gender equality and inclusion principles; highlighting the social, economic, and cultural barriers faced by women and persons with disabilities; and strengthening participants’ understanding of their rights, entitlements, and active roles in community development and peacebuilding processes.
These are not abstract concepts for the women who attended. They are daily realities — the barriers they face when trying to access land, markets, credit, or community leadership spaces. The training gave language, frameworks, and solidarity to experiences that are often silently endured.
Inclusion as a Peacebuilding Strategy
YARAC’s approach recognizes something that development research has confirmed repeatedly: communities that include women and marginalized groups in decision-making are more peaceful, more prosperous, and more resilient. Amplifying the voices of women and persons with disabilities does not just serve those individuals — it transforms entire communities.
By fostering more inclusive participation, stronger cooperation, and sustainable peace within Kihang-Buhit, this GEDSI training is laying groundwork that will outlast any single project cycle. Supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the SPRING Programme in Nigeria, this initiative is part of YARAC’s commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey toward peace and development.