César Da Silveira

Peace-building - Angola (South Africa)

For 27 years, the people of Angola have endured a devastating civil war that has left the country in virtual ruins. Although a ceasefire has been in place since 2002, Angolans continue to suffer from the lingering effects brought upon them as a result one of Africa’s longest and costliest conflict. As a young activist living amidst the backdrop of war-torn Angola, César Da Silveira has become most concerned with the youth of his nation, who have emerged from this conflict bearing deep physical and mental scars. Many are now disabled after participating in the armed conflict. Most have returned home lacking any basic education.

With no hope of building a future in a country where the economy is in disarray after suffering years of violence, the youth of Angola are desperately in need of resources and a chance at improvement. With the help of Oxfam IYP2004, César hopes to develop a program to encourage young Angolans to understand the importance of incorporating human rights into reconciliation and national reconstruction. “The war has created a culture of violence where torture is very common and human dignity is a luxury,” he says. “The active participation of young people is necessary to bring about a positive change in society”.