Actions :

In the South: Development catalysts

What is an "Island of Peace"?

An "Island of Peace" is a community of men and women with whom we share a certain perception of development and with whom we decide to pursue the same path together.

This approach is built on, first of all, a work of substance on a long term basis, secondly, on the mobilisation of skills and technical or material resources of the groups, on one had concerned by the activities and on the other hand, decided to manage their own future (self help). Finally this approach is built on a genuine dialogue between equals (brotherly dialogue).

Our NGO did play a leading role in setting up the first Islands of Peace, nevertheless, all the Islands of Peace are entirely built on local organisations and individuals who carry their own projects. For the last few years, we have been maintaining stronger relations with existing associations who have contacted us in order to benefit from our experience and savoir-faire. From the start of these contacts, we endeavour to establish a well-balanced relationship in order to avoid the confusion between partnership and subsidiarity.

>Further reading about our approach

The autonomous Islands of Peace

Since 1962, five Islands of Peace have become autonomous. These are the Islands of Peace of Gohira (Bangladesh, 1962-1967), Kalakad (India, 1968-1975), Timbuktu (Mali, 1975-1994), Yalogo (Burkina Faso, 1982-1999) and Bolama (Guinea Bissau, 1986-2003).

Before the arrival of Islands of Peace, all these areas were characterised by a situation of considerable unbalance (floods, famine,...). Our action endeavours to re-establish the balances on more solid grounds, first of all, at the material level and secondly, at the level of the local populations capacity to organise themselves. In each Island of Peace, we have looked for structural solutions to the problems of the region. Common element of most of these autonomous Islands of Peace: the intensification of agriculture for an improved food security. This intensification has taken into consideration the respect of local traditions and cultures. Instead of importing western techniques, we have attempted, where it has been possible, to improve local solutions.

In our view, autonomy does not mean disinterestedness and abandonment. When our partners feel strong enough to pursue alone their own paths, we leave. At that moment, they possess all the necessary resources to pursue as well as expand our common action. For example, more than 30 years after our departure from Gohira, the number of agricultural co-operatives has quadrupled in the region. Moreover, nearly 15 years after the transfer of the irrigated parameter of Korioume to a local co-operative, the size of the area suitable for cultivation by irrigation has also quadrupled in the region of Timbuktu.

>Further reading about the autonomous Islands of Peace

Ongoing Islands of Peace

Currently, Islands of Peace is active in four countries : Ecuador and Bolivia in the Andes, Burkina Faso and Bénin in West-Africa.

In Latin America, we work with Indian communities engaged in agriculture and live stock-farming in particularly difficult conditions: the altitude varies from 1500 to 4000 meters. Since 1995, Islas de Paz Ecuador works together with these marginalized communities for the improvement of their everyday life. First present in the Valley of Pangor (south or Riobamba), our action now extends to more than 120 communities throughout the Andes. Since 2000, we are also active in Bolivia, currently in Sacaca, in the northe of the Potosi province. Our actions include the improvement of local skills in agriculture and live stock-farming through the training of "technicos", (villager technicians who offer their services (vaccinations, diffusion of agricultural knowledge) to their companions), the preservation of natural resources (anti-erosive terraces, protection of springs, manufacturing of natural fertilisers,...) and better acces to credit.

In West Africa, Islands of Peace radiates from its East Burkina Faso antenna based in Fada N Gourma. Islands of Peace accompanies the efforts of local peasant organisations to improve their food security. Our assistance consists of, on one hand, a methodological support to reinforce the capacities of our partners on the field, and on the other hand, a financial support to enable them to implement the identified actions. Currently, we are working more specifically in three localities: Tensobentenga (Burkina Faso) with the association Song Taaba, Toucountouna (North Benin) with the "Union Sous-Prefectorale des Producteurs" and finally, Yamba (Burkina Faso) with various local actors. While providing our partners with direct accompaniment, Islands of Peace equally favours the capitalisation and the diffusion of peasant experiences as well as the dynamisation of exchanges between peasant organisations in the area.

> Further reading about our ongoing actions

In the North: Enlightening public opinion

An "enlightened and active public opinion" was the wish formulated by Dominique Pire one month before his death. We continue to contribute to the materialisation of this wish, through our work of education to the realities of development. On the basis of our particular experience of development, we try to create awareness in Belgium to the realities faced by our partners in the South. Animations in the schools, educational folders, video documentaries, North-South exchanges, are all tools which we apply for this purpose.

In this respect, our strategy does not consist in providing ready-made analysis, opinions or judgements to the public, but, for each issue, to show both sides of the coin so that everyone can make up its own opinion.

Every year, in mid-January, in order to pay tribute to Dominique Pire and to prolong his engagement, the opportunity is given to those who have been touched by our message, to give a bit of their time to carry through the annual funding campaign.

For the past few years, we also accompany a certain number of associations in the North who wish to contribute to the development efforts of the South. Thanks to our advice, drawn from more than 40 years of experience, and to our methodological support, their actions can be enhanced with more effectiveness.