Since the end of September, I have taken over new responsibilities within the "democracy and reconciliation programme" I have worked in since January. I am now in charge of two programme components:
- civic education
- youth policy.
I work in a team with 4 fantastic and competent Rwandans. We initiate or support projects that contribute to the peace building process in Rwanda.
Since the day that my responsibilities have changed, I can say that this is the job I have been dreaming of for a long time. It is a very creative work and wakes up the little "manager" inside me.
Seminars for youth on civic rights, debates on the Rwandan genocide, festivals and sport competitions at national level, "foodball pour la paix", "cinéduc" (cinema and education) etc.
"Cinéduc"
In December, the first regional peace camp will take place in Rwanda where 150 youth from Sudan, DR Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya will be participating and debating on political issues such as the origins of the Great Lakes Conflicts.
Very sensitive issue in Rwanda. Rwandans tend to not want to go deep into discussions on responsibilities concerning the genocide and the massacres of 1994.
At community level many things are possible in Rwanda. National level is more difficult. There is still no national youth policy developed in Rwanda. One could wonder if the government really wants youth to be empowered. Empowered means also critical...
This is one of the Rwandan dilemmas I have to deal with in my daily work.
Especially when it is about civic education: should we try to empower young people, if they may get into trouble when being critical?
For me, the most important challenge is to help to reinforce civil society in Rwanda. And at the same time, make sure that civil society actors get protection from the governmental institutions - by bringing them together in joint activities.
"foodball pour la paix" - no arbitrator and only girls' goals counting
