2025 was a year radiating with youth-led peace across Africa’s Great Lakes! Here’s a look at some of the inspiring moments from our APOL peace family.
Hello New Peace Club: Tanzania
In January, we celebrated the launch of Mupango Peace Club at the Institute of Rural Development Planning in Dodoma, Tanzania—our first APOL club on a college campus!
More than 600 students joined the festivities, with music, guest speakers, comedy, and a hot, delicious meal that was a big hit. A powerful start to peacebuilding on campus! 🎉
Waging Peace: DR Congo
In February, we hosted a special trauma counselling workshop for youth from Vision Club who’ve been facing intense conflict, including the capture of their city by M23 rebels. Despite everything, the day was filled with laughter, skits, games, prayer, counselling—and a hot meal. A simple but meaningful way to care for and encourage these resilient young people as they continue choosing peace.
Big Love for Little Ones: Light of the World Club, Rwanda
Light of the World Club is one of our big love squads! Every Saturday, they’re cooking and serving a nutritious breakfast for 30 vulnerable kids—using their own funds and ingredients from home. And it doesn’t stop there: after training in physiotherapy for children with disabilities, club members are now visiting families to offer care, encouragement, and love to kids who too often face stigma and isolation.
Hello New Peace Club: Uganda
Meet Unity Fraternity—our newest APOL Peace Club in Uganda, launched by Regan, together with other Peace Camp alumni!
They’re already making an impact: helping young moms with health and nutrition training (plus hygiene kits); equipping families with practical skills like making and selling liquid soap for income; and supporting vulnerable students – especially girls and orphans – with school supplies and sanitary products. Small starts, real change.
Africa Great Lakes Peace Camp #14: Rwanda
In August, 65 youth from across the Great Lakes Region (Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania & Uganda) gathered for our 14th Annual Peace Camp—joined by an amazing team from FBC Toronto.
They built skills in leadership, mental health, conflict transformation, and entrepreneurship, with a standout moment: teams pitching social enterprise ideas to a panel of entrepreneurs!
In a region shaped by deep conflict, Peace Camp creates space for healing and real connection—where strangers become friends, and youth rise as peace leaders. They return home inspired, launching clubs and initiatives that keep the ripple of peace growing.
Watch fun clip from Peace Camp
Building Better Communities, One Visit At A Time: Great Lakes Clubs
Always There, Always Caring: Peace Clubs stay active year-round, reaching out to those often overlooked—elderly, widows, children with disabilities, young orphans, vulnerable families, and long-term hospital patients. They bring food, clothing, school supplies, diapers, and more, spreading care and hope.
As Kristofa, Chairman of Mupango Club (Tanzania), says: “We remain committed to building a better society by sharing what we are blessed with and empowering others.”
Solidarity at School: Rwanda
Our School Peace Clubs in Rwanda have been busy! From providing school supplies to vulnerable classmates, to sharing learning and games from peace camp with their peers, to hosting a joyful year-end celebration (GS Nyamyumba) —with a hot meal to honor graduating club members and welcome new members—these students are building real community, solidarity, and unity in their schools.
Other GS Nyamyumba highlights: Club members stepped in to help students in need, spreading compassion and a spirit of mutual support; they also held peace education sessions to build personal responsibility and conflict-resolution skills; and learned essential mental health skills and basic entrepreneurship skills, to thrive and lead. Noted one teacher: “We are deeply grateful to APOL and the peace club—students’ mindsets and behaviours have truly been transformed.”
Happy New Year: Vision Club, DR Congo
A New Year, a Continuing Mission! Vision Club Congo kicked off 2026 with their annual Christmas/New Year’s lunch at a local orphanage. With APOL’s support, club members bought the food, cooked, served, cleaned up—and played games with the children. A joyful way to start the year!
We’re inspired by the dedication of our youth peace catalysts and can’t wait to see the new projects they have in store for 2026.
Thank you to all our supporters and volunteers—together, we are the peace, and together, we spread it even further!
A Peace of Life 