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Global Peace Bank Signs MoU with Hawassa University to Promote Peace Building

Hawassa, Ethiopia – The Global Peace Bank (GPB), a local civil society organization dedicated to peace building and conflict resolution, has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hawassa University (HU). This partnership aims to enhance collaborative efforts on community service, training, consultancy, joint events, research, and sharing resources to promote peace initiatives.
Registered with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s Authority for Civil Society Organizations, GPB has been actively engaged in peace building projects through various platforms, including media outreach. Established on November 23, 2023, the organization has made significant strides in addressing social issues stemming from conflict.
Hawassa University’s Department of Journalism and Communication, established in 2004 E.C. under the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, seeks to advance the media and communication sector through quality education, impactful research, and service to the community. 
During the signing ceremony, Prof. Zeleke Arfich, Dean of the College of Social Science and Humanities, welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of collaboration in building sustainable peace within the nation. He highlighted the crucial role of media in promoting peace and expressed confidence that partnerships with journalism schools like HU will enhance peace building education.
Prof. Zeleke noted that this MoU formalizes an already existing cooperative relationship between GPB and the university, presenting an opportunity to further achieve their collective goals for societal well-being.
Mr. Argaw Ayele, Founder and Manager of Global Peace Bank, expressed gratitude for the support from the university and its staff, outlining the organization's mission. He stated that the erosion of peace leads to various social problems and stressed that preventing conflict is more effective than addressing it after the fact. Drawing on experiences from the Ebenezer Supporting and Development Association, Mr. Argaw emphasized the importance of unity among all humanity, regardless of ethnic, linguistic, or religious differences, and called for peace as a global priority. He championed the "Neighbour First Approach" to advance goodwill within society.
Deyamo Dallie, the Peace Building and Peace Promotion Officer at GPB, elaborated on the organization's principles and objectives. He reiterated the commitment to advocating for peace through a community-centered approach, which includes facilitating dialogue forums and leveraging research outcomes to inform policy proposals aimed at resolving conflicts.
Mr. Eyayu Alemayehu, Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication, expressed his gratitude for the collaborative efforts that led to the signing of the MoU. "Long distances have been covered to cooperate with GPB. Today marks an extension of our partnership, aligning our media practices with peace building initiatives," he stated.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Argaw Ayele on behalf of GPB and Prof. Zeleke Arfich on behalf of Hawassa University. The executive signatures were also witnessed by Mr. Deyamo Dallie and Mr. Eyayu Alemayehu.
The event drew participation from university staff, program coordinators, lecturers, students, and members of the media, all eager to contribute to a more peaceful society through this new partnership.

2025-03-24