(Albert Rutikanga) Rwanda - Peace Education Initiative Rwanda

Peace Education Initiative Rwanda

Albert Rutikanga Executive Director August 2, 2020 Phone: (+250)788950777 Email: info@peacedu.org/albert@peacedu.org Website: http://peacedu.org/ Facebook: Peace Education Initiative Rwanda Twitter: @peaceduiniative Peace Education Initiative Rwanda is a non-government organization that is more engaged and dedicated to preventing genocide and mass atrocities. It provides genocide education with more focus on the Holocaust and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. It confronts and helps the most vulnerable genocide survivors in the Eastern Province of Rwanda in both psychosocial resilience and economic development. Peace Education Initiative Rwanda believes the power of peace in the economic and social development of the countries. It knows that peace has a profound impact on the wellbeing of the community and that peace education plays a vital role in building peace and creating 1

tolerant societies free from hatred. So, the Peace education Initiative Rwanda promotes peacebuilding by providing young people with knowledge and skills in the area of peace which results in building unified societies. Peace Education is very crucial in the world to promote peace values such as respect for human rights, freedom, and valuing diversity.

The Holocaust Education

Peace Education Initiative Rwanda teaches youths and adults about the Holocaust. It uses resources from museums to share Holocaust history. People get to know historical anti-Semitism and Hitler’s rise to power. They understand the process of the Holocaust and its similarities with the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Then, they are called upon not to allow any kind of favoritism and discrimination since it could result in genocide.

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The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda

Figure 1: Remembering the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi In 1994, Rwanda experienced a massive killing of the Tutsi all over the country. In Kayonza District, Rukara Sector, Hutu militants manifested atrocity, ignored that Tutsi were neighbors, and massacred them. Tutsi had 100 days of suffering; days and nights full of agony. They not only lost lives, but they also lost their belongings, family members and some were disabled. Worse enough, parents lost their children, females were raped and unfortunately got HIV/AIDS. Peace Education initiative Rwanda works to narrow the gaps in the psychosocial and economic livelihood of genocide survivors as well as building a unified society free of discrimination and hatred.

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Community Outreach

Peace Education Initiative Rwanda raises community awareness about genocide and how to prevent it. Peacebuilding lessons are also passed to the community to create peaceful societies. Genocide survivors give testimonies and get relieved of the pain and the wounds caused by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Perpetrators who confessed their role during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi also share the testimonies of how the genocide was planned and how they were manipulated by the former leaders and followed blindly. They ask forgiveness again and promise to contribute to peacebuilding.

Then, they call upon the community to use their critical thinking and not allow anyone who sows hatred in them. Through the training and workshops, the community learns to value neighborhood and go away from what separates them. Peace Education Initiative Rwanda promotes unity and reconciliation in the community.

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Teachers Awareness on Genocide Education

Peace Education Initiative Rwanda train high school teachers about genocide prevention and human right education. It equips them with the peacebuilding and human rights knowledge that they pass on to their students to build peace among themselves and contribute to the social cohesion of their communities. Teachers help students to better understand the culture of peace, then foster peaceful coexistence among young people. Teachers and their students are called upon to be peacemakers and defenders of human rights.

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Youth Clubs Contribution in Peace Building

Peace Education Initiative Rwanda formulated peace clubs from various high schools all over the country. It creates platforms bringing together young people and adults to understand the essence of peace culture and how to sustain it. This includes taking youth to genocide memorial and museums to learn more about the genocide histories and access the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and Holocaust materials. They get testimonies from genocide survivors and perpetrators who confess their role during the genocide, and then get the opportunity to ask questions and have a deep understanding of what happened and how to prevent the genocide. Youth get critical thinking lessons that boost their capacity of refusing any genocide ideology. Instead, they build the capacity for future leaders and agents for good change.

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Social and Economic Development

Peace Education Initiative Rwanda works with genocide survivors from the Rukara sector to increase their economic development and psychosocial resilience. This is because while the genocide was taking place, they were targeted and their children, neighbors, and friend were deprived of life and lost their belongings. As consequences, they live in a very daunting and hopeless situation under extreme poverty. It is that line that Peace Education Initiative Rwanda provides financial support to them and creates economic projects for them. Currently, there is a poultry project which is expected to generate income which will cover basic needs for its beneficiaries, the most vulnerable genocide survivor widows. Peace Education Initiative Rwanda also provided goats, health insurance, and sanitation materials to most vulnerable genocide survivors to improve their economy and prevent the spread of Covid-19. The beneficiaries gain the concrete essence of life, come together, and most importantly have the opportunity to improve their economic standards while at the same time run a common project such that they can be able to sustain their lives. Peace Education Initiative Rwanda also provides physiological support to the survivors who got psychological problems due to the genocide.

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