Human Rights & Peace Education in Rwanda

The TURIKUMWE (We are Together) is a program that brings young leaders from Rwanda and from around the world for an intensive two-week program exploring human rights and peace cultivation in a national and international context. Based in Kigali, the capital city, the program includes site visits throughout the country and an excursion to beautiful Lake Kivu.

During the course of the program participants come together to explore different notions about human rights and peace education but also to learn more about how to take action to promote peace and genocide prevention worldwide.

Global Youth Connect, in partnership with INALAS Legal Aid Services, enhances the youth leaders’ personal interests and explores new angles on human rights, peace, mass atrocities prevention through group discussions, workshops, site visits, homestays and volunteer placements.

During the educational and inspirational two-week program, Turikumwe delegation meets with various governmental and non-governmental organizations, including: National Paralympic Committee (focusing on the people living with disabilities), Health Development Initiative (Sexual and reproductive health rights initiative), Rafa (LGBT rights), Embassy of the US, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Rwanda, Aegis Trust (preventing mass atrocities and promoting peace-building education), Ejo Youth Echo (using media to promote the culture of peace), Mind Leaps (street children social inclusion), Ineza Cooperative (woman living with HIV), Esperance (football and sports for hope), etc.

History:

When most people think of Rwanda today, the first thing that comes to mind is the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, which left between 500,000 and one million people dead in merely 100 days. More than twenty years later, the country is becoming known for other things – including its world-renowned dancing, coffee, stunning landscapes, and mountain gorillas. Furthermore, people from around the world are traveling to Rwanda to see the reconciliation and development progress that has been made since the genocide. The Government of Rwanda and its partners have made tremendous progress towards economic and social development. For example, Rwanda’s GDP has been growing at a rate of 8%, and since 2003 Rwanda has had the world’s highest percentage of women in Parliament.

Yet the genocide, and the wars that preceded and resulted from it, remain palpable and influential aspects of Rwandan life. From scattered memorials marking mass graves to the painful absence of loved ones, Rwandans must face the genocide, its causes, and consequences every day. There is evidence of healing. Rwandans seek justice, respect, societal and individual betterment, and for answers as to why the genocide occurred and how it can be prevented in the future. They are striving to rebuild the bonds of trust that were shattered by the violence and trying to live without fear and depression.

Rwanda:

Healing in Rwanda will most likely be a process that continues for generations, especially given that Rwanda does not exist in a vacuum. Set within this context, the next generations in Rwanda face wide-ranging and interconnected challenges. Youth who were survivors, perpetrators and witnesses of the 1994 violence still need to heal. Tens of thousands lost their families and still suffer from physical and psychological wounds. Today youth want to go to secondary school, but school fees must be paid. Those lucky enough to complete school want to apply their knowledge, but find the competition for limited jobs daunting. In what was, after the genocide, the poorest country in the world, incredible progress is visible in many areas – but there is still much to be done.