A Thornhill man is being honoured for founding a youth organization that works to combat violence in post-election Kenya, by opening the dialogue of reconciliation between African tribes.

Youth Ambassadors for Peace is the brainchild of Adam Hummel, 27, who is receiving the Youth Tikun Olam (Repairing the World) Award this month from Canadian Jewish Humanitarian and Relief Committee, Ve’ahavta. He started inter-tribe soccer tournaments, peace seminars, peace clubs and a chicken farm. There, youth — an age range from 16 to 40 in African culture — discuss shared values, war, personal experiences and integration.

“The best way to do reconciliation is to make sure everyone is supporting everyone,” said Hummel. “That includes the people who are the weakest and most neglected in society.”

Through the first workshop held in 2008, Hummel met Kepha Nyambegera, a youth who is now his trusted friend and the project’s regional director. With his help, Youth Ambassadors continues to look ahead to the March 2013 elections in Kenya where they hope to reduce the potential for further violence.