Rwanda : Burundian youths draw lessons from Never Again past experiences

The Burundi Youth Association for Development (IDEBU) visited Never Again Rwanda’s (NAR) offices in Kigali to draw out lessons on how to build sustainable peace in their country.

Their visit was aimed learning how the NAR operates, learn from the organisation’s past experiences, and to bring home important lessons that can help them create peace.

IDEBU was founded in 2007 and works with small associations and cooperatives across Burundi, with a focus on rural development and peace building.

Eric Mahoro, the Programs Director at Never Again launched the fact-finding mission by introducing organisation’s work of promoting peace and social economic development in Rwanda. He then focused on youth after genocide; orientation and prevention.

He  spoke about the history of Rwanda concerning youth during the 1994 genocide, challenges faced by the youth in a post-genocide society, the road to transformation and NAR’s approach to the way forward.

In the afternoon, IDEBU visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center. The youth were exposed to the history of Rwanda, how the genocide was prepared and the initiative of the Rwandan youth to stop the genocide.

After the tour, the group took a moment to reflect on what they had just seen. The youth of IDEBU told NAR staff that they were inspired to make the decision to be ambassadors of peace everywhere they go, and to ensure that what happened in Rwanda will never happen again.

The Burundian youth reflected on how Rwandan youth are taking a lead in the development of Rwanda.

The youth of IDEBU said that they have learnt a lot from NAR and will share the experience with their colleagues back in Burundi.