This March for Peace was the closing ceremony of a vast programme entitled Amahoro-Amani [1] (“peace” in kirundi , the language of Burundi, and in swahili ) launched in October 2005 by seven associations of scouts and guides of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Over two years, 420 young people were trained in mediation, prevention and peaceful handling of conflicts, in order to promote long-term peace in this region, which has been recently destabilized by conflict. The March, organized in several Peace Caravans, enabled these young people to meet communities weakened by conflict, and to organize conferences on peace building in the region. They also presented their declarations and wishes for the future to local authorities, before gathering at the International Meeting for Peace at Gitega, in Burundi, together with participants from eleven countries, and several international associations.

Combating ethnic prejudice and participating in local development

Community mediators with street children. © Gilbert Mussumba

These young mediators, capable of gauging intolerance in their own communities – stereotypes, discrimination, etc. – gather together in Peace Clubs, and train other young people in the peaceful handling of conflict. Together, they undertake concrete activities to build peace in their immediate surroundings, intervening in domestic, educational and ethnic situations. They thus acquire essential skills for planning micro development projects and for presenting these projects to the authorities. “I have learned to handle other young people and how to speak in public. I can also deal with administrative officials who support our activities” claims Bucumi, a 19 year-old Burundian mediator, leader of a Peace Club. Community mediators also play an active role in the reconstruction of social ties, by aiding people in difficulty. For example, mediators from Bujumbura in Burundi have organized games for street children. They teach them songs of peace, hold talks where each child describes what peace means to him, does a drawing of his idea of peace and explains his drawing. Through their ties with these children, the mediators have been able to help some of them find foster homes.

Young messengers of harmony and reconciliation

These activities are adapted to local history and context. Almost 15 years after the Rwandan genocide, reconciliation is an ongoing process : “In my Peace Club”, explains Cyubahiro, a 23 year-old Rwandan mediator, “we attended a gacaca meeting (village tribunal), and discussed with other young people how to make people aware of the need to tell the truth, at the gacaca, about what they saw or did”. This peaceful understanding which the young mediators wish to adopt begins with the Peace Clubs, which bring together young people of different backgrounds. For Gilbert Mussumba, head of the Amahoro-Amani programme: “After the success of the Peace March, we aim to strengthen the Peace Clubs and create new ones, so that young people can continue to contribute to the social unity of their region.”

Also read: Resonances Africa N° 23 - April 2008