HOP launched a peace building project with the financial assistance of Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (DFATD) of Canada. The project is being implemented in the IDP communities living in three collective centers (Shire preparatory school, Adi-kentibay elementary school and Adi-wenfito elementary school) at Tigray Region, Shire town
The goal of this project is to facilitate the safe and sustainable return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Western Tigray to their place of origin while mitigating potential violent conflict and promoting peaceful coexistence. Organizing weekly coffee ceremonies is a key project activity planned to encourage dialogue and understanding between returning IDPs. These Coffee ceremonies are culturally significant gatherings in the IDP community that provide a relaxed setting for dialogue, relationship-building, and sharing ideas.
Coordination of coffee ceremonies is planned to be accomplished within June 2024-February 2025. Since June 2024 HOP, through the formerly established peace committees in the project sites, coordinated 6 rounds of coffee ceremonies that fostered a sense of unity. In the last 6 coffee ceremony events coordinated so far, 401 participants (240 male and 161 female) were engaged in conversations about peace, reconciliations and community issues. The gatherings are equipping participants with tools to prevent conflicts and resolve disputes peacefully. This includes understanding triggers, managing tensions, and finding common ground.