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Rwanda Peace Education Programme (RPEP)

The Rwanda Peace Education Programme promotes social cohesion, positive values – including pluralism and personal responsibility – empathy, critical thinking and action to build a more peaceful society. The programme brings together experienced partners in the field of peace education. Aegis Trust, as lead partner, is working with Radio La Benevolencija, the Institute for Research and Dialogue for Peace and the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation to deliver the programme across Rwanda. The programme was launched on 1 July 2013 and is funded by the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA).

“The sustainability of the Rwanda Peace Education Program can be best ensured if it is integrated in the school curriculum at all levels.” Former Minister of Education Silas Lwakabamba

“The Rwanda Peace Education Programme is a major step forward for peace education in Rwanda and can have a long lasting effect. It is an integrated programme of activities which engages many, from decision makers to school children and young people across the whole country”. John Petrie, Programme Coordinator

“Enabling young people and communities across Rwanda to have this learning opportunity is vital for the future of our country. Applying lessons from the past to prevent division and violence in the future is perhaps the most important way in which to honour the memory of the communities and loved ones we so tragically lost.” Freddy Mutanguha, Country Director for Aegis in Rwanda.

The Rwanda Peace Education Programme has four main areas of focus:

  1. Education Outreach Programme:

The programme is currently conducting 20 community visits, each of three weeks, across all regions of the country. A mobile exhibition uses a storytelling methodology from people of all ages who tell of how the genocide affected them as well as stories of reconciliation since 1994. The programme also involves training teachers in how to deliver peace education, school workshops, youth activities, community and school debates, dialogue clubs and arts and drama workshops. The outreach programme also engages district leaders and decision makers in the community.

  1. Kigali Genocide Memorial Education Programme

School workshops are delivered at the Kigali Genocide Memorial with four newly built classrooms enabling the programme to increase the number of workshops it hosts. The workshops focus on social cohesion and personal responsibility.

  1. Genocide Archive of Rwanda

The Genocide Archive of Rwanda is used by the peace education programme as a resource to teach participants about the causes, implementation and consequences of the genocide against the Tutsi. The programme draws on the more than 8,000 items in the archive.

  1. Youth Champions Programme
Over the next three years, 600 youth champions will be trained to be leaders in their communities. The ambassadors will form a national network of young leaders and will be trained in personal responsibility and social cohesion and will be part of organising activities for the annual commemoration of the genocide – Kwibuka.