The most fundamental questions here are: How do we create peace in a region devastated by years of conflict and violence? What are the concrete steps that we can take to engage youth in reconciliation, to give them the opportunity and skills to create a new future for Africa?

Our Work and Programs

Reconciliation Projects

All of Amani Africa’s activities go hand-in-hand with our mission of promoting sustainable peace in Africa’s Great Lakes region by empowering young people to find ways to demonstrate and effect reconciliation in their communities. Informal discussions at the close of regular sports practices or drumming and dance rehearsals reinforce the themes that the activities themselves put into practice.

In addition, Amani Africa organizes special workshops, seminars, public awareness campaigns, and conferences in its effort to get young people talking about how human rights, post-conflict reconciliation, and peace-building affect their countries and their own lives.

The thought- and discussion-provoking activities vary depending on the age group, but even the youngest participants in Amani Africa’s sports and cultural programs engage in discussions on topics of peace, tolerance, respect, racism, discrimination, and children's rights. The more formalized events provide older children an opportunity to delve into these issues in greater depth and engage leaders and young people from other parts of the region.

Gasana and Charles developed the reconciliation and human rights curriculum, and the Right To Play training module supplements their material.


Objectives:

  • Create engaging and entertaining programs that will help youth understand the concepts of peace-building, conflict resolution and reconciliation issues and recognize how these themes apply to their own lives.
  • Learn about existing ethical and practical frameworks and approaches to peace-building, its values and principles.
  • Analyze human rights and conflicts throughout Africa.
  • Learn about peace-building tools and interpersonal skills that will assist in developing advocacy actions.
  • Discuss the role of NGOs, particularly youth-led NGOs, in peace-building.
  • Discuss the role of media and learn about peace journalism.
  • Understand and practice negotiation skills.
  • Plan and conduct action plans for human rights awareness campaigns and reconciliation programs.
  • Analyze and practice intercultural communication skills.
  • Practice research and listening skills.
  • Reflect on intergenerational partnerships.

Memorial Visits

Amani Africa organizes regular trips to genocide memorials around Rwanda. Many of the youth would otherwise never visit these sites. As the youngest generation of Rwandans to live through the genocide or who were born shortly thereafter, it is vital for young people to fully understand the history of their country in order to participate in unbiased discussions regarding Rwanda's future.