““My Journey to Peacebuilding”My Journey to Peacebuilding”CONTACT 2011, Brattleboro, VermontCONTACT 2011, Brattleboro, Vermont

June 8, 2011June 8, 2011

Higiro IssaHigiro IssaProgram and Networking CoordinatorProgram and Networking Coordinator

E-mail: higiroissa@yahoo.com E-mail: higiroissa@gmail.com

P.O.BOX 4582 Kigali – RwandaP.O.BOX 4582 Kigali – Rwandawww.memosrwanda.org

E-mail: memsrwanda@yahoo.com Tel:+250788516199Tel:+250788516199

OutlineOutline

•Origins of MEMOSOrigins of MEMOS

•Mission, Vision & StandMission, Vision & Stand

•Activities done Activities done

•Challenges faced Challenges faced

•The Rwanda Rescuers’ ProjectThe Rwanda Rescuers’ Project

Origins of MEMOSOrigins of MEMOS

““Kimisagara Youth Centre”Kimisagara Youth Centre”

• MEMOS - learning from history, is a peace organization that was conceived by some Rwandan youth who were volunteers at Kimisagara youth centre “Maison des Jeunes” (2000 – 2004).

• By mid 2003 during the construction of the road that goes at the youth centre, bones of a young child between the ages of 5 – 7 were discovered.

• After realising that remains of people are still scattered all over the country, the youth decided to form an organisation which would promote human rights, encourage commemoration and advocate for the never again campaign.

• The organisation started officially on the 27th February, 2005. Its legal status was granted by a Ministerial order n° 140/11 on 12th September 2008.

Mission, Vision & StandMission, Vision & Stand

•The mission of Memos is to promote a culture of The mission of Memos is to promote a culture of non-violence, reconciliation as well as learning non-violence, reconciliation as well as learning from both negative and positive historical aspects from both negative and positive historical aspects of Rwanda.of Rwanda.

•While its vision is to ensure a peaceful and a While its vision is to ensure a peaceful and a reconciled Rwandan society.reconciled Rwandan society.

•Memos stands forMemos stands for equity, honesty, love and equity, honesty, love and human dignity. human dignity.

ActivitiesActivities Done Done

Below are various activities overview:Below are various activities overview:

• Peacebuilding Training’s in Peacebuilding Training’s in participatory Approaches .participatory Approaches .

• Research on History and 1994 Rwandan Research on History and 1994 Rwandan Tutsi genocideTutsi genocide. .

• Study tours and exchange visits. Study tours and exchange visits.

• Joint activities and Bearing witness Joint activities and Bearing witness retreats.retreats.

* Continued Next Page* Continued Next Page

ActivitiesActivities Done Done

Activities overview continues..:Activities overview continues..:

• Creation of students peace clubs. Creation of students peace clubs.

• International conferences, youth International conferences, youth camps.camps.

• Advocacy and networking. Advocacy and networking.

• Community outreach activities.Community outreach activities.

The ChallengesThe Challenges

• Minimal means in Implementing, Minimal means in Implementing, Monitoring and Evaluation of our activitiesMonitoring and Evaluation of our activities

• Lack of broad research on the Rwandan Lack of broad research on the Rwandan history (specifically the 1994 Rwandan history (specifically the 1994 Rwandan Tutsi genocide)Tutsi genocide)

• Few facilitators in peacebuildingFew facilitators in peacebuilding

• Initiatives aimed at peacebuilding among Initiatives aimed at peacebuilding among the youth yield minimum results and lack the youth yield minimum results and lack sustainabilitysustainability

* Continued Next Page* Continued Next Page

The ChallengesThe Challenges

•Poor participatory approach and methods Poor participatory approach and methods used in peacebuildingused in peacebuilding

•Lack of ownership of peace initiatives by the Lack of ownership of peace initiatives by the youthyouth

•Minimal role of youth in peace buildingMinimal role of youth in peace building

•Lack of expertise in trauma counselling Lack of expertise in trauma counselling

Rwanda Rescuers’ ProjectRwanda Rescuers’ Project

The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project (2011-2025)(2011-2025)

The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project (2011-2025)(2011-2025)

I. Research & DevelopmentI. Research & Development (by (by identifying more rescuers)identifying more rescuers)

What has been done so far:What has been done so far:

•33 Rescuers was recognised and their 33 Rescuers was recognised and their testimonies were documentedtestimonies were documented

•360 New rescuers identified from 60 360 New rescuers identified from 60 sectors of Rwanda. However, this batch sectors of Rwanda. However, this batch is not documented yet.is not documented yet.

The Rwanda Rescuers ProjectThe Rwanda Rescuers Project

I. Research & DevelopmentI. Research & Development (by (by identifying more rescuers)identifying more rescuers)

•There is a need to develop a database There is a need to develop a database of all identified rescuersof all identified rescuers

•Need to extend research to other silent Need to extend research to other silent heroes in other sectors of the countryheroes in other sectors of the country

The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project (2011-2025)(2011-2025)

The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project (2011-2025)(2011-2025)

II. To develop the manual based on II. To develop the manual based on rescuers’ experiences.rescuers’ experiences.Purpose:Purpose:•To educate the youth to emulate the To educate the youth to emulate the good behaviours of the rescuers good behaviours of the rescuers •To encourage the youth to be To encourage the youth to be ambassadors of change and social ambassadors of change and social transformation as well as resisters to transformation as well as resisters to negative ideologies in Rwanda. negative ideologies in Rwanda.

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The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project (2011-2025)(2011-2025)

II. To develop the manual based on II. To develop the manual based on rescuers’ experiences (continued).rescuers’ experiences (continued).Purpose:Purpose:•To enable national, grassroots leaders, To enable national, grassroots leaders, the international community learn and the international community learn and adapt from the experiences/behaviours adapt from the experiences/behaviours of the rescuers of the 1994 Rwandan of the rescuers of the 1994 Rwandan Tutsi genocide.Tutsi genocide.

The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project (2011-2025)(2011-2025)

The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project The Rwanda Rescuers’ Project (2011-2025)(2011-2025)

III. Memorial & Educational CentreIII. Memorial & Educational Centre

To be used as:To be used as:•An exhibition of the testimonies and An exhibition of the testimonies and research doneresearch done•Training of both the youth and elders Training of both the youth and elders •A resource centre and a libraryA resource centre and a library• A recreational placeA recreational place

I THANK YOU ON BEHALF OFI THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF“MEMOS ORGANIZATION”“MEMOS ORGANIZATION”

MURAKOZE CYANE!!MURAKOZE CYANE!!