The Youth Project

The Youth Project (YP), established in 1999, was designed to work with at-risk populations that often take part in violent conflicts as a result of political manipulation. The YP organised conflict-resolution trainings; retreats and exchanges for diverse groups of youth; sports events and tournaments; and concerts in order to bring together youth from different ethnic and geographical backgrounds for recreational and solidarity-building activities. As with The Women's Peace Center, much of the work of the YP continues as part of the Community Outreach Team.

Cartoon Book
In 2001, The Youth Project collaborated with JAMAA, a local youth association, to produce a cartoon book called Le Meilleur Choix ("The Best Choice"). The book describes the real-life experiences of two young men who participated in the violence of the mid-1990's, and their efforts to reconcile with the families of their victims. The project oversaw the production of a feature-length movie based on the same story, and was awarded an honourable mention by UNESCO for excellence in peace literature.

Making Contact
When Burundi erupted into a state of crisis in February 2001, SFCG arranged for a core group of 32 youth leaders from JAMAA's "Gardons Contact" (Let's Keep in Touch) project to mobilise in order to present a unified and well-behaved model to youth at a time when the threat of inter-ethnic violence was particularly high. The youth leaders came from Bujumbura City and the provinces to help the World Food Programme and CARE International in emergency food distribution to the 50,000 people displaced by fighting between government and rebel troops.

Football for Reconciliation
In December 1999, youth in Bujumbura and Ngozi participated in the first football (soccer) tournament in an ethnically divided district. The project then expanded to hold a football tournament/weekend camp once every four months, and an evening dialogue/roundtable focused on a video or event of interest once every month.

Peace Camp
In August 2000, SFCG and Visage Artistique du Burundi conducted a youth day camp at the Musée Vivant. Each week, 60 children ages 7-14 were provided transportation from three neighbourhoods of different ethnic composition to the camp, where they were taught peace-oriented songs, drawing and theatre. A local association that was trained in conflict resolution by the Women's Peace Centre worked with the children in the camp.

Children and Youth Radio
SFCG uses its radio station, Studio Ijambo not only to broadcast documentaries, soap operas, news and current affairs programmes, but also to reach out to the children and youth of Burundi. Among the broadcasts are music programmes for youth, a live phone-in discussion programme, and a programme presented by children.

Please click here if you would like to make a donation to support our projects.