Empowering Africa's Peacemakers

The Feb. 7 editorial "Darfur's Chaos Spreads" called on the international community to exert more pressure on Chadian leader Idriss D¿by to stem the current wave of violence in North Africa.

But what Sudan and Chad most desperately need is a diverse group of highly educated, indigenous peacemakers who are committed to regional stability. George Washington University has gone a long way toward empowering such leaders by supporting Banaa.org, a student-run scholarship program for young Sudanese people who have survived atrocity and demonstrated a commitment to peace. For stability and sustainable development to become a reality in Northern Africa, as well as in the Horn of Africa, we must mobilize our educational resources to nurture and support those working for peace in their homelands.

Only by empowering those who have lived through genocide and civil war can we hope to end this perpetual conflict.

JEFF DeFLAVIO

Co-Founder

Banaa: The Sudan Educational

Empowerment Network

Washington