CARSA’s Peace Education Program Forges Young People to Be Agents of Everlasting Peace and Holistic Development
The majority of the youth in Rwanda were born after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, thus they did not witness the atrocities that took place in Rwanda during that time. Christian Action for Reconciliation and Social Assistance (CARSA) focuses on teaching young Rwandans how to be real agents of lasting peace and a sustainable, transformative nation.
CARSA aims to build a society that understands the consequences of genocide by focusing on preventing man's inhumanity to man. We believe that peace education and teaching young people how to prevent Genocide and mass atrocities is crucial to making a brighter future.
Since its establishment, CARSA has devised peace education initiatives that equip with youth the necessary knowledge and skills to: collaboratively resolve and transform conflicts; and transcend prejudices, suspicions, and divisions to successfully work for sustainable reconciliation and peace, especially in the post-genocide context.
Since last month, CARSA has been delivering PEACE CONFERENCES to some schools in Kamonyi District in Rwanda South under the titled theme “Promoting Unity and Resilience”. This participatory event brought together students from distinguished schools to have the opportunity to learn more about genocide history and its aftermaths from the testimonies presented by genocide survivors, former perpetrators, and Abarinzi b'Igihango (rescuers). They also learn to focus on their own unity, resilience, and socio-economic development as individuals and play key roles in the development of the country at large.
Mukayitesi Ephigenie is a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 in Rwanda. For over 20 years, she grappled with major PTSD, which led to somatization and social isolation due to the atrocities she experienced. She was able to heal after voluntarily joining a Reconciliation Workshop organized by CARSA in Rukoma Sector, Kamonyi District where she lives. Her story serves as an extraordinary inspiration to the young generation.
Mukayitesi took enough time telling the young people how she particularly experienced the effects of Genocide ideology and divisions. She revealed how, at her young age, access to education was not as easy as it is today because every time they tried to go to school, her teacher separated Tutsi from Hutu, and sometimes Tutsi followed the lessons while they stood still in the classroom while others sat in tranquility. Also, each morning the students identified as Tutsi had to stand up to verify if no one was missing as well, and in the national exams, the results were not on their side as they placed according to their ethnic group without considering the performance.
“I first experienced persecution when she began to go to school. Every morning before the lessons, the teacher commended Hutus to stand up, instantly stood up and recorded their attendance, after all, Tutsi also stood up, and recorded their names and even the Batwa. The day closed and we went back home with numbers of Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa” Mukayitesi pointed out.
She added “In the time of National Exams, I Ephigenie from a Tutsi family, however, I got excellent performance in exams like 100%, I was not allowed to go for further studies such as high school as my academic record portrayed that I am Tutsi farmer’s daughter and it was a great mistake and a proof which ultimately confirmed that I could not be placed to any school in Rwanda even though I was among the best students. But, because of good governance and CARSA’s support, today, I am no longer called a snake, I am Rwandan like other Rwandans and we have equal rights and opportunities.”
Elisabeth Hagenimana, a young girl who shared a testimony of trauma recovery in Peace Conferences, was born into a family whose father played a big role in killing massive people during the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994. Even though she was a baby during the genocide against the Tutsi and had never gotten a chance to live with her father, Elizabeth has even experienced social and psychological effects as a result of being the daughter of the murderer.
After graduating from high school, she had to work and gain money to pay back all the assets damaged by her father, and she was able to reunite with all the community members abused by her father.
Elisabeth Hagenimana said “During the Genocide, I was a baby, discovering that my father had played a big role in the Genocide became the cause of living with self-hate at a level you can't comprehend. Like when we went to school and one student spoke out that we belonged to the perpetrator. we also experienced serious harassment from the neighbors of both Genocide survivors and perpetrators but today, the story has smoothly changed I identify myself as Rwandan, and I am no longer called a child of a killer”
Through CARSA's reconciliation initiatives, she was able to recover from trauma. Today, she is no longer called the daughter of the killer. She became an active PEACE ANCHOR and representative of the Community Youth Peace Club in Rukoma Sector, Kamonyi district.
Mbonyingabo Christophe, Co-founder and Executive Director of CARSA has also advised the young students who were able to come to CARSA’s Peace Conference in E.S Musambira how to develop the character to be real agents of peace, living in harmony, conflict resolution, and catalyst of economic development in their community and country at large.
He told them a story about when he was in university, he came up with the idea of establishing an organization to support people in dealing with the effects and aftermaths of the Genocide and the dream came to be true.
Mbonyingabo told young people that “After the Genocide, downheartedness, grief, and shame were prevalently upon the faces of both survivors and perpetrators but I believe that there is something special to put in place, and after I decided to find out some of my colleagues with whom I could share the idea, we had agreed on to offer that kind of contribution”
“That is why when I see you in front of me at these young ages, I reaffirm that it’s possible for every child at this age like me when I was in S2; surely, when you have a good mindset, right thoughts, and understanding that Rwanda is your, and you have a contribution to make for our country. We can build a marvelous country, Rwanda paradise that is not fiction song but the real powerful Rwanda” He added that.
Through these peace conferences, young children promised to abide by peace aspects, and social cohesion as well as to share their skills with others to build peace in their areas. Again, they understood their roles in making a better future; full of peace, wealth, and respect for others.
CARSA actively works with 30 schools in Kamonyi and Muhanga districts based in Southern Rwanda, where over 4,000 students have been part of our Peace Education Program, including visits to the Kigali genocide Memorial, peace conferences, peace clubs, football for peace, and training. Now, they’re making a significant impact in their communities.
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CARSA’s Executive Director was talking to the young students at E.S Musambira
Elisabeth Hagenimana was sharing a testimony of trauma recovery in Peace Conferences
A perpetrator publicly confesses and urges young people to engage in any kind of violation.
The head teacher of E.S Musambira talks to his students about building everlasting peace.
Students from G.S.Sancta Maria-Kamonyi at Peace Conference.
CARSA’s Executive Director was talking to the young students at G.S Sancta Maria
Elisabeth Hagenimana was sharing a testimony of trauma recovery in Peace Conferences
