Centre for Social Transformation and Human Development (CHDST)

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The Centre for Social Transformation and Human Development (CHDST) was formed and registered as a NGO in 2005 to co-ordinate the “protect our future project”. The aim is to coordinate and support a programme of social transformation and human development in Nigeria. The centre organises constant training for stakeholders on various aspects of human development & social transformation, this include: conflict resolution, peace education, democracy, environmental and human rights.

Mission
The Centre exists to develop the human capacity for change. In cooperation with like-minded organizations, it seeks to transform situations of conflict by training and engaging youths, teachers and community leaders on conflict management, democracy and good governance, believing that it is only by creating a culture of peace and democratically minded individuals that the community can fully realize the potential of the physical and human resources for development.

Vision
We envision Nigeria as a society of equitable and sustainable development, created by a culture of peace and democracy.

Objectives:
• Train stakeholders in social transformation (peace building, environment, citizens participation, democracy, etc) and human development
• Promote an awareness and interest in the common good by collaborating and empowering collective responsible leadership.
• Provide training and capacity building on peace education (peace building and conflict transformation)
• Train and empower communities and marginalised groups as well as other stakeholders to make democratic decisions for themselves, such as electing their own leaders and holding elected leaders accountable.
• Build Capacity of communities on democracy, development & peace building
• Provide training on various aspects that will enhance development in the community.
• Use the media as a tool for development and enhancing public participation.
• Publish publications on peace education, citizen’s participation, democracy, good governance and environment to be adopted for use in the country.
• Create awareness on a democratic and a culture of peace among youths, women, marginalised groups and other stakeholders.
• Hold training sessions for youths, women, marginalised groups and other stakeholders to imbibe leadership and a culture of peace.
• Research into public participation, democracy, conflict and peace building.
• Collaborate with other organisations to achieve our objectives.
• Organise events in the area of human development & Social Transformation.

Our activities:
• Peace Camp: Peace camp is a forum that provides an atmosphere of friendship and interaction in which peace education, civic education and conflict resolution methods are learnt..
• Traditional conflict: The primary objective of this project is to establish an effective communication channel that is all-involving towards eradicating tendencies for crises and conflict between intra and inter communities with constant feedback to enhance concrete peace-building.
• MOVE Project: The Mitigation of Violence in Elections (MOVE) for 2015 elections in Nigeria was coordinated by the International Foundations for Electoral Systems (IFES). The aim is to decrease the potential for outbreak of violence before, during and after the 2015 elections. CHDST designed projects that strengthened existing conflict mitigation and mediation platforms in the zone, identified hot spots and devised appropriate intervention strategies. Some of the strategies included town hall meetings which were held in each of these locations with seasoned personalities educating the electorates on effective ways of mitigating various forms of violence during the elections. There was street theaters performances, IEC materials distributions among others.
• Establishment of Peace clubs in schools in Rivers State. This project included surveys of schools principals and teachers as well as administrators for the project.
• Vision Nigeria Radio Programme: One hour interactive weekly radio programme. The format is to facilitate conversations between the studio audience and the general public. The members of the public did participate through SMS and phone in. The themes for discussion are topical issues; however, emphasis is placed on civic participation, human rights, democracy and good governance.
• Voters Education: Workshops on Voters Education, Community meeting organizing and use of technology, Street Theatre, Radio outreach and Democracy fair.
• Training Workshops On Conflict Transformation
• Publications: Manual on Peace building in Schools ; Research on Student attitudes and responses to violence ; Booklet on youth vision for peace and democracy in Nigeria
• Teachers Network: The Network of Civic and Peace Education Teachers was formed to coordinate and mobilise teachers for the school project what schools project. The Teachers meets twice a term.
• NGO Capacity Building Workshop on Non Violent Change

Rev. Fr. Polycarp Henetu is the Executive Director and Dr. Imoh Colins is the Technical Director of the Centre for Social Transformation and Human Development (CHDST).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.