2024 was a whirlwind of peacemaking. Thank you so much…merci beaucoup…asante sana…murakoze cyane…to all of our supporters, volunteers and youth peace catalysts who make it all happen.
Here are some peaces of our year around A Peace of Life (APOL).
Water for Peace: Tanzania
In April, we donated 2 new water tanks to Chihanga Secondary School. Now over 600 students and staff have access to clean water in a hot, dry, rural region. On hand to celebrate the installation were APOL directors, Prince Mugisha, Laurena Zondo and Kerika Olelemoyan (pictured front), with Team Tanzania (TZ).
Team TZ are all university students at the Institute for Rural Development Planning (IRDP) in Dodoma. APOL’s involvement in Tanzania was initiated by Kerika when he was a student leader on campus. He’s since graduated with a Master’s degree. Kerika is a Peace Camp alumni and has served as volunteer staff, including director of Peace Camp 2022. That same year he was appointed to the APOL leadership team.
During our April visit, female team members also had the opportunity for a special session with girl students on hygiene, and gave out sets of washable pads. It was a big hit as lack of these products often force girls to miss class/drop out of school. The visit ended with a school-wide assembly to thank APOL and Team TZ for the water tanks and ongoing support.
We also helped to support a water project by Lion’s Cafe near Arusha (Tanzania). It’s a business started by two young social entrepreneurs, Prince Mugisha (APOL exec dir) and Jackson Mhando. The project included digging a well, installing piping and water tanks to benefit not only the cafe, but also the local Maasai community who walk many kilometres each day for water. Now all in the community have easy access to water they can freely take and use. Truly an example of working together to help the people around us!
Garden for Peace: Rwanda
APOL Peace Club at Cyivugiza Secondary School planted a garden of spinach to sell to the school and local community for improved health and income. With their earnings, the club was able to give a chicken to each member, for family nutrition and income potential. Throughout the year, they also helped other students in need, with school materials, school uniforms, etc. The club was started many years ago by Peace Camp alumni. They were also among the first clubs awarded a small APOL grant – our “10,000 Dreams” project to encourage youth entrepreneurship. They started to raise rabbits and planted avocado trees – and were officially recognized, winning 2 environment awards from the district! The peace club is now in a rebuilding phase as the initial leaders and members have all either graduated or moved on. The garden is one of the club’s first, new major activities.
Youth for Peace: Africa Great Lakes Region
In Aug, we brought 58 youth together from the Great Lakes Region (Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania & Uganda) for our 13th Annual Peace Camp. They were joined by a team of youth and leaders from FBC Toronto, Canada (pictured front row). Peace Camp continues to be life-changing as youth build vital life and peacebuilding skills. It’s creating strong bonds of friendship, and a growing network of peace clubs, in a region impacted by genocide and violent conflict. After Peace Camp, youth return to their communities as peace catalysts, inspired to lead peace and development in society.
Peace Camp focuses on inner peace, interactive learning and team building, with daily devotions, arts and crafts, sports, games and other team activities.
BUT…one of the most inspiring workshops at Peace Camp was on “Entrepreneurship”, with a field trip across the city of Kigali to visit Lion’s Cafe & Bakery. It was started by our very own Prince Mugisha, APOL ex dir (pictured centre photo). Youth enjoyed a treat of refreshing fruit drinks and samosas – all made on site. Prince shared his experience in starting and growing a business, from 3 tables in a small shop to a large cafe & bakery in both Rwanda and Tanzania.
Sports for Peace: Tanzania
After Peace Camp, the FBC Toronto team travelled to Tanzania for a special sports event at Chihanga Secondary School with APOL’s Team TZ. We played volleyball and football (soccer) with students and gave much-needed sports equipment to the school.
Students enjoyed the impromptu volleyball skills clinic by “visiting coach” Rev Dr Wendell Gibbs (centre pic), and others on the FBC team. In November, the school was surprised with a gift – a desk and chair set for each teacher. Special thanks to FBC & supporters for helping to resource this school in a region impacted by poverty.
Sports for Peace: Rwanda
We continued to support young players at Nyamirama Sport Centre. This village academy was started by Coach Innocent to give youth (boys and girls) opportunity to develop skills in football and life. In addition to sponsoring team competition jerseys, we had several players attend Peace Camp 2024.
Coach Innocent is a Peace Camp alumni and served as volunteer staff at Peace Camp 2024, helping to lead workout sessions and our Peace Camp Olympics.
Food for Peace: DR Congo
Vision Club Congo continued to visit children at an orphanage. At Christmas, with funding from APOL, the peace club held their annual Christmas lunch with the children. Club members brought the food, cooked, served, cleaned up and played games with the children. At the beginning of a new school term, Vision Club also raised funds amongst themselves to give children living in a vulnerable area a school kit (school bag and school supplies) to encourage them to stay in school.
Most of the leaders of the club are Peace Camp alumni, including Alain Nasekwa (pictured second row, in red). For many years, Alain has been one of our dedicated Peace Camp staff, and served as camp director in 2024. He was appointed to the APOL leadership team in 2022, as DR Congo representative.
Food for Peace: Burundi
Burundian Heart of Charity made a first visit to long term patients in hospital. They gave out gift bags packed with rice, beans, porridge and soap, purchased with funds they collected amongst themselves. They also continued to make visits to a small orphan centre caring for infants, many of whom were found abandoned on the streets. The club brought diapers, juice and treats and spent the day playing with the children and helping to feed the youngest ones.
The club was started by Chanelle Irakoze (pictured right photo, on far left), after attending Peace Camp. For many years now, she has been one of our dedicated volunteer staff at Peace Camp. Chanelle was appointed to the APOL leadership team in 2022, as Burundi representative.
Purpose-driven for Peace: Rwanda & DR Congo
In Feb, we held a special day of training on leadership development and peace club management. 44 youth attended from 6 of our affiliated clubs in Rwanda and DR Congo. Lead facilitator Justine Mutoni, from Edify, inspired youth to consider what kind of leader they want to be. She gave a similar session at Peace Camp 2024, encouraging youth to discover and live out their God-given purpose in life.
Health for Peace: Tanzania
After returning from Peace Camp, APOL Team TZ mobilized peers for “Project Restore Hope”, to enhance health & hygiene at a clinic. They swept walkways, collected trash and dead brush on the grounds and gave gifts of soap for bathing and washing clothes to the women’s and children’s wards. They closed out the year by visiting an orphanage and bringing food supplies and soap.
One of the leaders of Team TZ is Kristofa Mwashiguna, chairman (pictured centre photo). He is a Peace Camp alumni and served as volunteer staff at Peace Camp 2024.
Business for Peace: Rwanda
The land has been cleared and we’re ready for the first phase of development to start! Thanks, again, to our angel investors who helped to jump start the dream into reality. We look forward to building an eco lodge & camping resort on the shores of Lake Kivu. It will serve as host site for our Peace Camp and earn income to support APOL in youth peace & entrepreneurship.
Contact us for more information, if interested in becoming a partner/investor in this unique social entrepreneurship initiative.
Whew! It was a fantastic, full year. We are inspired at the plans and commitment of our youth peace catalysts and look forward to seeing new projects in-the-works in 2025.
Once again, thank you to all of our supporters and volunteers. Together, we are peace and love in our world.
Be peace. Make peace.
A Peace of Life 
What a great report. Congrats everyone.
Blessings from Kathy
LikeLiked by 1 person