Schools for Dialogue

The Schools for Dialogue Project facilitates forums in secondary schools to raise youth awareness of democratic principles and tolerance. As of September 2010, the initiative included 1,500 students in 25 participating schools, with between three and six schools per province. Senior level students are introduced to peace-building topics and encouraged to openly analyse and debate the issues. According to the organisers, students are encouraged to think "outside the box" and develop theatre sketches, paintings, poems, cartoons, and dances to communicate the issues and their points of view.

In 2008 the project was expanded to become a national competition. Each school picked a winner in each of the five categories: song, dance, theatre, drawing and poetry. These winners were then able to compete against students from other schools on the provincial level. The final was held in the capital Kigali, bringing young people together from across the country.

For World Peace Day in 2010, schools were sponsored by the initiative to plan various projects to help build sustainable peace in their neighbourhoods. For example, one group of students decided to help build a house for a family in need. Others used the money to visit the villages of genocide survivors and talk to witnesses.

According to the project, although young people are less directly affected by Rwanda's violent past and by ethnic divisions, legacies live on as they have been deeply affected by the past of their parents. By involving young people in a healing, dialoguing, and creative process the cycle of resentment and social division could be reduced and the foundations of lasting peace laid for the future.

Youth, Peace-building

Schools for Dialogue started in 2007 as a follow up to one of the recommendations that came out of a nationwide consultation on the obstacles to lasting peace. The call was to include young people in the discussion on issues of democracy, tolerance, and the functioning of state bodies - issues that were being discussed during adult-centric forums across the country.

While funding allows only 25 schools to participate at this stage, organisers say requests to become a participating school are constant. Children involved in the initiative are seen to be more tolerant and inclusive. Creative arts are being used to increase understanding of issues, break down barriers including the gap between generations. Students are now getting involved in the adult centric activities and the first University initiative is now in place.