Youth Icons Boss Wins Award In US

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday July 6, 2011.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of Youth Icons Ghana, Nana Yaw Osei-Darkwa has been honored in the US for his efforts at promoting non-violence among the youth in Ghana.

He received the Bruce W. Tancrell Most Outstanding Award from the Center for Non-Violence and Peace Studies of the University of Rhode Island at the just ended 10th International Summer Nonviolence Institute conference.

The Non-Violence Training and Peace Education conference was attended by participants from 16 countries and 13 US states at the University of Rhode Island from June 6-17, 2011.

The late Bruce W. Tancrell was a correctional officer for 33 years and a volunteer teacher of the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies of the University of Rhode Island and as a result, the center rewards the efforts of people who are believed to be championing non-violence and promoting the philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jnr., who also used non-violence to fight for his peoples’ rights.

According to the center, Mr. Osei-Darkwa was being recognized for his “leadership, vision and efforts to promote peace and non-violence in Ghana since 2008.”

The citation said he was instrumental in organizing the “1 Ghana Peace Project,” a campaign which sought to promote peace and unity during the 2008 General Elections.

“Earlier this year, the NGO organized a 3-day intensive non-violence training workshop in Accra for 25 youth leaders in collaboration with the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies of the University of Rhode Island.

Youth Icons Ghana has also partnered professional soccer star, John Paintsil in instituting the ‘Paintsil’s Peace Kid Project” which seeks to promote peace through sports among children,” the center added.

Commenting on the honour done him, Mr. Osei-Darkwa expressed his appreciation and promised to work hard to help instill the spirit of non-violence among the youth.

He dedicated the award to all Ghanaians and encouraged everyone to resort to non-violence means in dealing with their differences saying that it was unfortunate that people have been made to believe that non-violence is for the weak.

He said Bruce W. Tancrell’s life was worth celebrating because he was an individual who believed in non-violence and contributed significantly to ensuring that the world was made a better place for all.

Mr. Osei-Darkwah remarked that he was extremely honored and happy to be associated with the life of Bruce W. Tancrell and charged with the responsibility to carry on where he left off as far as promoting non-violence is concerned.