THE ROLE OF THE YOUTH IN PEACE BUILDING PROCESS IN THE POST 1991 ETHIOPIA: THE CASE OF WOLISO TOWN, IN THREE SELECTED KEBELES

Abstract

This study is conducted with a general objective to identify the role of youth in peace building process in the post 1991 Ethiopia, the case of Woliso town. It is an existing fact that because of the health protocol that our government passed regarding Covid-19, that could become the global pandemic since recently, Ethiopian students, as much of the students in any other parts the world, haven’t been able to attend their education, let alone for conducting research data collection on the ground, since the last April of 2020. Against all odds though, the researcher of this particular study has been trying to collect some data and prepare some preliminary conclusions within the short days we had starting from the time we the students come back to the campus accordingly. Taking that into account, the researcher used questionnaire and interview as a data collecting instrument. With the help of those instruments, the data was collected from primary and secondary source. The study used simple random sampling technique, the gathered data were analyzed and presented qualitatively, and as way of analyzing data by making use of description and summarize data through contextually. Thus, based on the review of the related literature and the primary data the researcher has collected so far, this study has come to make some preliminary conclusions by making the following points. At the country level, the role the youths should play in peace building is under recognized. Factors such as misconception towards the youth and lack of embracing schemes from the government and disenchantment of the youth not to engage in grass root peace processes obstructed their positive role. The study also explores, conceptually though, the existence of few tendencies of active engagement of the youth. Finally, it can be concluded that the government administration of Woliso town has to work hand and glove with the youths to minimize mistrust. Designing and employing grass root policy measures to permeate the idea and essentials of peace building is terribly important so as to avoid the cycle of violence in the Town in particular and in Ethiopia, by large