Our Activities

Outreach

The organization performs free concerts in conflict prone institutions such as schools, refugee camps, interim care centers. By this process we not only entertain but also opens channels of communincation among various antagonistic constituencies that had developed in the course of the war. By bringing ex-child combatants to communities they once terrorized, and where they were understandably feared and loathed, the outreach program provides a platform for both groups to hear each other's side of the story. For the children, their new role as musicians, dancers, and visual artists enables them to give something back to the community while helping them on the road to recovery and societal acceptance.

Peace Music

In a bid to further spread the message and peace of reconciliation--and to raise funds-- Peacelinks undertakes numerous recordings of original peace songs beginning in 1996 with the nationally acclaimed album Believe in Peace. This was followed by Torch of Love in 1999 and Reconciliation in 2002. The titles of both the albums and the songs are self explanatory: Children are the future not only highlighted the potential of youths as instruments of positive change but also the dangers to societal growth in general of dampening their dreams for a better future; Disarm was a direct call to the leaders to demobilize from their ranks and reintegrate all child soldiers back into civil society. These songs were recorded in both English and the native languages.

Art Exhibitions

We periodically organize art exhibitions that reflect the war and peace experiences of the children. Participants tell their stories through paintings, drawings, and woodcarvings reflecting a wide range of emotions: sadness and happiness, hate and love, despair and hope. Over the years the artwork from these projects have been exhibited nationally and internationally, and have attracted the attention of researchers and organizations from around the world.

Community Internship Programs

Peacelinks runs a community internship programs for young people from various institutions interested in the art for peace project. The beneficiaries are often directly selected by their communities or institutions and are provided with free hands-on training in visual and performing arts.

Vocational Skills training

Peacelinks provides free vocational skills training to underprivileged youths from across the country. The young people are equipped with life- skills such as tailoring, batik and gara dyeing, auto repair and carpentry. Equipped with these new income-generating skills, the graduates go on to lead independent lives.