Projects
In spite of the incredible progress being made in the rebuilding of Rwanda from the 1994 Genocide, there are alarming levels of mistrust and genocide ideology. “Rwanda cannot achieve its development without peace and reconciliation among its people…[it] involves truth telling and truth seeking,” poignantly notes one young survivor.
Peace and reconciliation involves truth, remembrance, understanding, forgiveness. Effective and creative communications can play a significant role in this process, by opening up difficult dialogue, creating a common ground with understanding and empathy, and a climate where stories and perspectives can be shared and creative solutions worked on.
gafotozi community exhibit
We launched a pilot project in Rwanda in November, as part of the commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide and the International Year of Reconciliation (2009; declared by the United Nations). The first phase in this youth peace media initative was “gafotozi“, a photography workshop with orphans, many of whom live in child/youth-headed households.
The next phase, an annual youth peace camp, was launched November 2010 in Nyange. See photos from this incredible event.
In 2011, we held a second peace camp. We are now planning a peace camp for 2012 and helping to support several other events and media in the works by our local partners and youth peace catalysts. Your support is crucial. See how you can make a donation today.
The photography workshop was great! It was a surprise to see how young boys and girls can illustrate their lives and aspirations through the pictures they took throughout the workshop. Testimonies I personally listened to have revealed that children who attended the workshop have increased their level of self confidence…I kept the image of the village habitants who were very curious attending the 1rst ever exhibition in their village and happened to listen to explanations provided by their children over the photographs they had taken, as they chose what appeared to be their favorable pictures! Stories pictured about families living with HIV/AIDS, poverty, environment, etc. Surely that brought a piece of PEACE in that village in Eastern Rwanda.
April 8, 2010 at 2:36 pm
thanks, dominique; we were thrilled to have you as one of our guest judges. We hope we can publish some of their great work to encourage others and spread the word.
We’re really looking forward to working with AEBR Youth on the peace camp and your other projects, like the peace music studio!!
April 23, 2010 at 4:41 am