Strategies to Sustain Peace and Its Benefits in the Waum Community, August 2025.

The Waum is an administrative district located in the northernmost part of Liberia, within Lofa County, specifically, within the statutory district of Foya. The district is situated in a remote area of Lofa County, near the borders with Sierra Leone and Guinea. Waum is a significant community hoping for speedy development. Due to its remoteness, few non-governmental organizations (NGO) have ventured to conduct activities relating to the sustainability of peace there, according to participants. As usual, participants were invited from nearby towns and villages to join the discussion.

During the discussion on ways to sustain peace in the region, held at the district seat of Porluma Town, the everyday gandhis team sought to explore the residents' understanding of the sustainability of peace in the district and the benefits individuals enjoy during peaceful times. Therefore, the circle was conducted in a way that everyone had an equal chance to participate actively.

An open-ended question, such as ‘What are some of the simple things we can do in this community to maintain lasting peace in the region?' 

A woman named Fatu Ezekiel said that peace can be achieved in our community by respecting everyone's views and being willing to reach out to the local community leadership whenever you are hurt about something, rather than taking matters into your own hands.

In addition, Jacob Nalima, from the Belaybadeh Community, noted that working together as a community at different levels is another way to achieve peace, starting in our various homes, including those of husband and wife, and their children.

Another woman from Porluma, Princess Ngoneh, said that we can achieve lasting peace when people trust and believe in one another, but first, there must be a good level of cooperation among us.

Reuben Bumbeh, from Porluma, contributed to the circle that dialogue resolves conflict and maintains it from going off the rails, thereby sustaining peace.

John F. Wollie also said that organizing sports events and cultural festivals among towns and villages can promote peace in the region and help maintain it. She also said that the love and emotion people share during these events have the power to break and remove any obstacle to resolving conflict.

On this question, we (eg, staff) began to understand that, despite being remotely located and severely affected by the Liberian civic crisis, the people of Waum are aware of basic local actions that can be taken to achieve lasting peace.

The next question was, ‘What are some of the benefits individuals enjoy from peace?'

John Mannah, from Kparmen, discussed with the circle that there are numerous benefits an individual can enjoy when there is lasting peace, including a calm environment where people can live and focus on improving their lives and families, freedom of movement, and working together to overcome any challenges.

Tamba Lamin, from Koindu, also buttresses that the benefits of peace can be felt when people feel safe while visiting the Waum community. He went on to say that lasting peace in the region will improve agricultural productivity, thereby enhancing livelihoods.

Finally, it was a pleasure and an opportunity to visit the Waum district and interact with the wonderful people. We learn so much from them during the circle, some of which includes a local approach to problem-solving.