On 25 May 2025 – Africa Day – ACCORD’s Founder and Executive Director, Dr Vasu Gounden, was invited by the Founder of the South African-based Mayibuyi Youth Organisation, to officiate at their Peace in Africa with Discovery Vitality run/walk that was held in Durban, South Africa. There were three simultaneous events – a 5 km fun walk, a 10 km run and a 21.1 km run.
This was Mayibuyi’s 10th annual sporting event, which aims to promote Peace and Unity on the African Continent. The event aimed to encourage racial and cultural tolerance among different races and cultures in local communities and abroad to promote social cohesion.
Mayibuyi looks to establish good values and instil moral regeneration among the youth of South Africa. It encourages youth to pursue their education, and to provide temporary jobs for those out of work. Their work involves many community members from the Durban area.
Mayibuyi is an Nguni phrase when translated into English, means, “calling upon young people to come together and refrain from wrongdoing”. It was established in March 2009 and started operations in January 2012. It undertakes several community services and programmes, including a Peace Initiative Programme; Advocating Annual Peace (in areas of conflict, the youth are often excluded from shaping their environment. Mayibuyi looks to educate and empower youth to take charge and positively influence their environments and those around them to promote peace, and Fight Against Xenophobia.
The event aimed to unite everyone in South Africa, the Continent and abroad through the power of peace and unity, irrespective of religious, cultural backgrounds, language, beliefs, gender and disability, in order to reduce the level of hatred based on nationality and race.
In 2018, ACCORD established Global Peace, which works through young people across the world and key stakeholders to create an ecosystem for Ideas, Innovators, Influencers, Investors and Implementers to find practical solutions to global challenges in order to enhance conflict prevention and strengthen the global multi-lateral system. ACCORD has also undertaken several social cohesion activities over the years to promote peaceful coexistence.
