Wishing everyone a very peace-FULL, hope-FULL, and happy new year….
Pictured: The newest graduates of Peace Camp, held Nov. 18-25, 2013, in Kigali, Rwanda. We had 65 youth and youth leaders attend this year (including a team of 11 from the DR Congo and three youth reps from Kenya). The camp is an annual event sponsored by A Peace of Life, thanks to all of our generous supporters including CBM, a major partner in this youth peace media initiative.
In addition to peace education through interactive games and learning, new activities at camp this year included visiting a pottery cooperative, making friendship bracelets, a traditional dance lesson and performance by NIYO Cultural Centre, a nightly radio news skit, a lively peace camp presentation during Sunday worship at the AEBR Kacyiru church, and the creation of a few short music videos with the help of our friends at Almond Tree Films Rwanda. See clips on Youtube.
But overall, was the emphasis on inner peace and personal transformation (living in love, forgiveness and reconciliation). An important workshop to help us in this process was Paulette Baraka’s session on trauma and peer counselling after our visit to the national genocide memorial. We were also inspired by hearing the personal experiences of Marc, one of the founders of Peace & Love Proclaimers, and Phanual. See more of Phanuel’s story.
See more photos from peace camp and our other activities throughout the year.
On the drawing board: we are dreaming big for 2014, which marks the 20th Commemoration of the Genocide in Rwanda,with plans for Solidarity Peace Camp – with more countries to be represented; an exciting peace club challenge; a new youth newspaper; a short film, and many other activities to promote youth peace using the arts and media.
See you in the new year!
All photos in this post: Dydine Umunyana
A Peace of Life 