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Angolan Civil War: A Socially Divisive Force
The Angolan Civil War which ceased in 2002 was a socially divisive force that greatly hindered the development of the country, especially in economic terms. By 1995, Angola faced an external debt of about US$12 billion and hyperinflation climbed from 3,880% to 1,650% in 1995 and 1996 respectively. The civil war was primarily a power struggle between two political parties: the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

In order for the country to progress, its society must be cohesive, as a stable society is an important impetus for economic development which could then potentially improve the lives of its citizens. To achieve this, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play a key role in the transition towards a harmonious and understanding society in Angola. For an NGO to be effective, it has to be independent and non-partisan.

Angolan Centres for Teaching Peace: Promoting Peace and Stability
The Angolan Centers for Teaching Peace (ACTP) is one of the key NGOs in Angola in promoting peace within the country. The main objective of the organization is to create and develop a framework of partnership of different scales: world, community, families and individuals, in order to reduce crimes and violence. In order to reach out to the public ACTP has established eighteen regional peace work stations countrywide. In addition, ACTP work closely with the national radio to disseminate peace media campaign information and engage private newspapers to participate in its cause.

Furthermore, the ACTP is committed in the combat against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) which is seen as a pre-cursor to the potential revival of a civil war. As such, in 2002, an NGO’s meeting on small arms was initiated. Table 1 gives an overview of the arms that had been surrendered by military personnels. ACTP taps onto its vast communication network to educate former fighters and ex-combatants including the general public on the potential threat of SALW in the country’s transitional phase towards a peaceful society.

Table 1 : Disarmanent of military personnel, as of 22 May 2002

Likewise, educating future generation on the importance of cooperation and the need for a stable society is of utmost importance. ACTP extends collaboration to external parties that share their vision. For example, there is promotion of peace education in Angola. It is envisaged that such peace education when embedded into national curriculum could positively create awareness and consciousness to future generation on the importance of a harmonious country.

Conclusion
In conclusion, ACTP as an NGO has been an active player in promoting peace in Angola. They strongly believe that for the country to crawl out of its civil war past, the source of violence must be resolved. ACTP thus extends its outreach to external parties and capitalized on the existing communication networks to maximize the effectiveness of its programmes. While its resources may be limited, we are hopeful that it can create multiplier effects that can positively shaped Angola’s future development.