Panel discussion and blog-reading: Being young in times of conflict: Readings from the Central African Republic

The Central African Republic has been characterized by recurrent periods of violent conflict. The 2013 Seleka coup d’état ignited the latest episode of conflict. On this afternoon we will draw explicit attention to the experiences of children and youth in this context, based on historical and ethnographic research and blogs written by young people from the CAR.

During the first part of this afternoon we will give attention to the first research findings in the research project ‘Being young in times of duress in the Central African Republic’, a project the ASCL carries out together with the department of anthropology at the University of Bangui for UNICEF Netherlands with funding from the Nationale Postcode Loterij. After the paper presentations and discussion we will move to the narrative oriented part of the afternoon that will be devoted to blogs by and about young people from the Central African Republic.

Programme:
14:00-14:15 Welcome by Prof. Mirjam de Bruijn (chair) and coffee
14:15-16:00 Panel discussion (3 paper presentations, 3 discussants and room for public debate)

1. What is ‘reintegration’ in a context of continued armed violence and displacement? by Dr. Jean Bruno Ngouflo (Anthropology Department at the University of Bangui, CAR) & Jonna Both (ASCL). Discussant: Dr. Klaas van Walraven (ASCL)

2. CAR: can we listen to young people's voices, even when they conflict with adult's interests? by Marieke Hopman (PhD Maastricht University). Discussant: Dr. Lidewyde Berckmoes (NSCR – VU)

3. The journeys of five Central African students in Congo-Kinshasa by Catherina Wilson (PhD Leiden University). Discussant: Dr. Naomi van Stapele (UvA)

16:00-16:15 Coffee break
16:15-17:00 Blog-reading, questions and blog launch

with Johnny Bissankonou, author of L’autre version de la crise centrafricaine and Catherina Wilson who will read from the blog by Max-Landry Kassaï. Additionally, the project blog for ‘Being young in times of duress in the Central African Republic’ will be launched.

17:00-18:00 Drinks