Power for peace in the Niger Delta
Establishing a community gas-bottling company to reduce local pollution, generate income, and reduce violence in the Niger Delta.
Profile
I am passionate about: The planet, and supporting those with concrete plans for how to try and address its climate, energy and economic problems.
A little known fact about me is: I used to play the trombone, very badly.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kfmccann/
Research and Policy Officer
Stakeholder Democracy Network
I am half-British, half-Belgian, and spent a lot of time thinking about Nigeria.
Research
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Idea
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Evaluation
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Establishing a community gas-bottling company to reduce local pollution, generate income, and reduce violence in the Niger Delta.
Hi - this seems like a great idea and I hope it gets off the ground. I completely support the fact that you're not just challenging the rhetoric around the (very depressing) narrative that refugees are a burden on host countries, but actually putting into action a mechanism to demonstrate the opposite. Good on you.
One question / comment I'd have - it sounds like you've done a great job of addressing the economic and business aspects of the issue, but I assume you'd also provide cultural / psychosocial support to refugees to integrate into their host countries? Also, from a family context, would the idea be to support one individual first who would then be able to bring family members over later? I imagine that despite the support on the employment front it might still be an extremely isolating and stressful experience. You do allude to it as I assume these issues would come under identifying barriers to economic migration - but interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks and good luck.
I think this is a great idea and I wish you success with it. I used to teach English at a social club for migrants and refugees in London, and one of the things that always struck me was the way in which children from an amazingly diverse range of backgrounds were eminently capable of causing good-natured chaos together. It was great, and I think your project really speaks to this truth.
One comment/question I'd have - and please forgive my ignorance of child psychology - are there culturally different types of play? Ie I wonder if in future iterations you might be able to have boxes that contain parts that relate to but bring together children from different parts of the world. I know I said that kids connect no matter what (and this is obviously what your research says as well) but perhaps you could even explicitly used different configurations to bring local and refugee children together so they can learn about each others' background. Just an idea!
Kevin commented on Pueblo de Reconciliación Solar Village - Colombia (updated 15 August)