{"id":10280,"date":"2021-06-03T18:42:03","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T16:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interpeace2026.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=10280"},"modified":"2021-06-08T13:52:24","modified_gmt":"2021-06-08T11:52:24","slug":"reconciliation-community-mediation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.interpeace.org\/fr\/2021\/06\/reconciliation-community-mediation\/","title":{"rendered":"Bicycles for Reconciliation and Community Mediation in Rwanda"},"content":{"rendered":"

During an event organised on 01 June, in Bugesera, Rwanda, 32 reconciliation mobilisers and community mediators were handed bicycles to ease mobility and facilitate access into communities for reconciliation and conflict mediation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese bicycles are going to help us, as reconciliation mobilisers, in our efforts to promote unity and reconciliation in our own areas,\u201d<\/em> said Jacqueline Nyiramayonde, a recipient of one of the bicycles.<\/p>\n

Distance and mobility remain a challenge to access rural communities in Rwanda. In Bugesera, a district that was severely affected by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, walking is the primary mode of transport in remote areas. This has made it difficult for reconciliation mobilisers and community mediators to easily access these communities in a timely manner.<\/p>\n

\u201cInterpeace has provided this support to enable them conduct their work effectively across all 15 sectors that make up the Bugesera District,\u201d<\/em> says Frank Kayitare, Interpeace Country Representative in Rwanda.<\/p>\n

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Photo credit: Interpeace<\/p><\/div>\n

The 32 bicyles were procured with funding from the Deutsche Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the project \u201cstrengthening mediation capacities and initiatives in the Great Lakes region\u201d<\/strong>. Interpeace is implementing this project in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in partnership with Prison Fellowship Rwanda, the Congo-based Pole Institute and the Commission for Integrity and Electoral Mediation (CIME).<\/p>\n

\u201cUnity and reconciliation mobilisers are at the forefront of strengthening the \u2018Ndi Umunyarwanda\u2019 [I am Rwandan] programme in their communities. So, there is the need to support and facilitate their work,\u201d said Emmanuel Gasana, the Governor of Rwanda\u2019s Eastern Province during the ceremony.<\/em><\/p>\n

Bugesera District was among the areas hardest hit in Rwanda by the genocide against the Tutsi. This means Bugesera has a bigger burden of reconciliation and societal healing to deal with. Fully aware of this, Interpeace began implementing the pilot of an innovative and holistic societal healing programme in this district to reconcile people, empower them economically and enhance social cohesion.<\/p>\n\n\t\t