Computer Game Teaches Conflict Resolution Skills to Rwandan Children
Search for Common Ground has developed an innovative approach to teaching Rwandan school children how to deal with conflict in their lives. In partnership with Serious Games, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Rwandan Ministry of Education, we developed a computer game designed to help primary school students learn about conflict: what causes conflict and what are some effective ways to handle it.
The game, Bana Dukine (Kids, Let's Play!) is set near a water hole and the characters in the game are the animals that use the water hole. The central character is Little Lion, whose father left him in charge of distributing water to the other animals. As the days go by, the temperature rises, and the amount of water in the hole decreases. This sets up the conflict between the animals over diminished resources. At this point in the game, conflict dialogues appear on the screen between characters, and it becomes the responsibility of little lion (i.e. the student) to choose the best response.
Bana Dukine is played on laptops donated by One Lap Top per Child (OLPC), a program championed by the Rwandan government that aims to distribute more than 200,000 laptops to Rwandan children. Launched in 2008, the program has reached at least one school in each of Rwanda's four-hundred and sixteen (416) sectors. Additionally, OLPC has trained over 2,000 teachers to implement the game. OLPC is coordinating with district governments to connect schools to the national electricity grid to power the computers. In schools that are located too far from the grid, OLPC workings with the Government to install solar energy.
Target Group
Bana Dukine is being used by students in the fourth and fifth grades. This age group was targeted because they are old enough to understand the message of the game and they have the reading and computer skills to use the program. The game is designed to complement the lessons in the school curriculum. During the testing and design phase of the game, we spoke with a wide sample of Rwandan children to find out what types of situations and conflicts they typically experience in their lives. The conflict dialogues within the game are based on the feedback we received. For example, in one scenario two of the animals fight over a soccer ball. In another, an animal feels left out because her friend did not include her to play together with the other animals.
Preliminary Evaluation
In June, SFCG conducted a preliminary evaluation of the game in 20 primary schools, conducting focus groups and interviews, and reaching over 400 students and 40 teachers in each province of the country. The evaluation sought to assess whether the game was appropriate for the students, if they learned new conflict resolution skills, and whether they could relate the lessons of the game to their real lives. Evaluations found that the game resonates with the children and that they, and their teachers, think it is a fun way to learn conflict resolution skills. Focus group discussions showed that the children had gained a high level of understanding of conflict resolution skills and, that the game provided a productive and safe space to learn and practice these skills.
What's next?
Now that the game has been designed, developed, and tested – it will be rolled out on a national scale by the Ministry of Education of Rwanda. The goal is to install the game on every OLPC computer going into schools, so that students all over the country will benefit from this new method of teaching conflict resolution. Bana Dukine is a pilot project that is designed to be replicated in any post conflict setting, and it illustrates the enormous potential for using technology to transform conflict.
Search for Common Ground Produces Girls Radio Program
Watch this CNN Report on Ni Nyampinga
SFCG’s radio program, Ni Nyampinga, aims to empower adolescent girls in Rwanda and steer them towards a better future. Focusing on girls aged 10 through 19, the program gives girls the confidence and ability to take control of their lives through education, economics, and health advice. In addition to the radio program, which is broadcast weekly, Ni Nyampinga includes a magazine produced by SFCG’s partner, Girl Hub. The initiative is supported by the Nike Foundation and DFID.
Originally known as Urungano, the program was renamed Ni Nyampinga in December 2011. It is currently the only radio program in Rwanda produced by girls for girls. “Nyampinga” means “miss” in Kinyarwanda, and refers to a female role model that is well-rounded, proactive, and promotes the potential for women to end poverty. A team of twelve girls, between the ages of 17 and 22, produce each episode - taking on the roles of presenter, reporter, researcher, and editor. Roundtable discussions, field reporting, and one-on-one interviews are used in each episode, covering a particular theme through multiple perspectives. The show also encourages listeners to call in to ask questions and provide opinions so they can exercise their voices and be heard.
Radio is the most popular and readily-available source of information in Rwanda, and Ni Nyampinga takes advantage of this format to forge a space where girls can find their voice, learn positive social behaviors and attitudes, and become leaders. SFCG believes that when a girl in the developing world realizes her potential, she isn’t the only one who escapes poverty - she brings her family, community, and country with her. Investing in a girl before she is married, pregnant or HIV positive is a solution for poverty.
Ni Nyampinga is currently SFCG-Rwanda’s most popular program. According to a recent survey, approximately 70% of people interviewed listen to the program.
Promoting Collaborative Land Conflict Transformation
Land-related issues are a major cause of conflict in Rwanda, a country that has the highest population density in Africa, an ever-expanding growth rate, and a heavy dependence on agriculture. As a result, Rwanda’s value of land has increased 800% in the last five years. As the government moves forward the process of registering land claims, domestic and community conflicts are emerging over who has rights to the property within families and between neighbours, among others.
To defuse land-related tensions, SFCG uses a variety of tools to target affected communities. One such tool is radio programming, which plays a major role in disseminating information on land conflicts and encouraging dialogue. SFCG’s land-focused radio program, Ubutake Bwacu (“Our Land”), introduces and clarifies issues, laws, and policies related to land tenure and promotes collaborative approaches to the resolution of land conflicts. Participatory theater is also frequently used to address land conflicts. SFCG’s theater troupe travels to rural communities throughout the country, performing acts that reflect specific land issues found within that area. SFCG also focuses on training traditional mediators, known as abunzis, in conflict resolution skills and land rights to address individual community conflicts.
SFCG conducted an evaluation of its land-related work in December 2010, revealing positive gains and also continuing challenges to target. The evaluation is available here.
Encouraging Alternative Livelihood Opportunities
Because Rwanda’s land conflicts stem partially from the country’s heavy dependence on agriculture, SFCG strives to promote alternative non-agricultural livelihood opportunities among Rwanda's youth. SFCG’s radio program, Kura Wikorera (“Grow While Working for Yourself”), is the primary channel for these efforts. This 30 minute radio magazine show airs weekly throughout the country. The program addresses challenges faced by unemployed and underemployed youth and discusses ways youth can explore alternative paths to support themselves and their families. Kura Wikorera targets both educated and non-educated youth, disseminating information on available job creation resources. The program also profiles successful youth entrepreneurs who have launched development initiatives in their communities in order to inspire others in their employment efforts.
Beginning in 2011, SFCG has been partnering with Education Development Center’s Akazi Kanoze (“Job Well Done”) project to produce a 10 minute drama sketch that provides information and resources based on the Akazi Kanoze livelihood development curriculum. The sketch is integrated into Kura Wikorera’s weekly format, ensuring that entertainment complements information.
Supporting National Reconciliation
Rwanda has achieved significant progress toward enhanced security and reconciliation in the country since the 1994 genocide. However, some challenges to unity and reconciliation remain. As part of its efforts to encourage constructive and collaborative dialogue within Rwanda, SFCG is partnering with the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) to support and strengthens efforts to promote reconciliation and post-conflict recovery by maximizing the impact of reconciliation projects. SFCG and the NURC are partnering to provide Common Ground trainings to the District Forums for Unity and Reconciliation as a first step. These forums were set up by the NURC to act as a liaison between communities and the government on issues related to the reconciliation process. SFCG also works with local associations to implement solidarity activities aimed at bringing together diverse groups and promoting unity and reconciliation in their communities.
In addition to providing support to existing structures and programs, SFCG uses participatory theater and radio programming tools in order to strengthen the process. For example, participatory theater activities are conducted in schools throughout the country to foster discussion among Rwandan youth on ways to address divisive issues. Furthermore, SFCG’s radio program, Turumwe (“We Are One”), targets people who are directly involved in the reconciliation process, including people who are compensating or are in jail and people who are receiving compensation or lost family members during the genocide. The radio program focuses on building bridges between these target groups in communities and sharing success stories to inspire other communities.
Giving a Voice to Rwanda's Youth
In Rwanda, youth between the ages of 17 and 35 account for approximately 60 percent of the population. Therefore, the country's success depends directly on the achievements of its young people. SFCG is engaged in inspiring youth to foster change within their communities by giving them an outlet to engage and express themselves. SFCG’s two radio programs that specifically target youth, Ni Nyampinga and Génération Grands Lacs, aim to create a space where youth can share their experiences and collaborate together on solutions to issues relevant to their lives. Ni Nyampinga targets adolescent girls through its lively radio magazine format. It is hosted by young female journalists and focuses on themes that are economic, cultural, and social in an effort to inspire and empower young girls.
SFCG’s second youth radio production, Génération Grands Lacs, targets university-level youth in Rwanda, Burundi, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Coordinated by SFCG, the program is produced by young journalists from five partner radio stations from the three participating countries. The program airs live for an hour each Saturday, with young people encouraged to participate through phone calls, SMS, and Facebook. The program examines issues affecting youth across the region, including questions of livelihood, security, civic participation, and social engagement. It strives to break down ideas that fuel stereotypes about “the other”, creating a safe and expressive platform where youth can recognize commonalities that unite them across borders. Airing in French, the program can be heard through any of the partner stations’ websites (see textbox).
According to a series of media sector mappings conducted under SFCG’s Radio for Peacebuilding Africa project, few governments successfully communicate policy information to citizens. As a result, important policies may not always be implemented due to a lack of understanding on the part of the people, which can in turn lead to conflict. Strategic communication is a central tenant to supporting development and preventing conflict; creating an open dialogue space for diverse individuals and groups to communicate on policies with their leaders ensures transparency and proper implementation. To do it well entails reflecting on how people get information, how they judge its credibility, and how they provide feedback back to policy-makers when they have concerns or compliments.
To strengthen the capacity of both the government and the media to practice strategic communication, SFCG conducts trainings which bring together media practitioners and local government leaders in various districts of the country. The trainings offer coaching and practical exercises to media practitioners and policy-makers, using case studies to stimulate new and creative thinking on how information can be shared effectively. The trainings are based on SFCG’s Strategic Communication for Peacebuilding module.
Encouraging Traceability and Good Mining Practices
The production and trade of minerals in the DRC and Rwanda causes many conflicts and human rights abuses, perpetuated by industry demand. SFCG is therefore working to foster transparency within the mineral supply chain and transfer industry demand to legitimate sources. SFCG’s radio program, Ubucukuzi Buboneye (“Appropriate Mining”) provides mining communities with information about traceability and the certification process, improving their understanding of key policies and mechanisms that are affecting their daily livelihoods. The information efforts of the radio program are complemented by a series of posters and comic books highlighting the same themes.
Regional Approach
SFCG’s program in Rwanda is an integral part of the organization's larger regional focus. SFCG has developed a regional strategy in the Great Lakes given that the conflicts and their consequences often extend beyond country borders. One of SFCG’s regional projects includes the radio program Génération Grands Lacs.
SFCG is also implementing regional activities focused on supporting small-scale cross-border trade, emphasizing security and protection of the traders while promoting relationship-building across borders. Efforts address illegal trading, smuggling, and tensions and a lack of trust between and among customs officials and small scale traders. Activities include trainings, dialogues, town hall forums, festivals, production of a radio program called Tuonane Sokoni (“Lets Meet at the Market”), and distribution of information cards on cross-border trade regulations relevant to small-scale traders. To date activities have focused on border points between Burundi, DRC and Rwanda that are affected by new protocols and regulations under the East African Community and Common Market of East and Southern Africa (COMESA).
