SFCG Rwanda Projects

National

Fostering Dialogue on Conflict Related Issues by Giving a Voice to Rwanda's Youth
In 2008 with funding from USAID, SFCG launched the radio programme Urungano, aiming at youth aged 12 to 20. Now supported by the European Commission, Urungano seeks to put children's voices on air to discuss the challenges and conflicts in their lives. Its objective is to create a space where children of all backgrounds can share their experiences and discuss together solutions to issues in their lives as they see them. The thirty-minute youth magazine/chat show is broadcast entirely in the national language of Kinyrwanda, and hosted by a team of four girls under the age of 18. Representing a diversity of Rwandan youth, the girls conduct interviews each week as well as plan and lead the show which has a live discussion element. [more]

Promoting Collaborative Land Conflict Transformation in Contemporary Rwandan Society
With support from USAID and the EC,SFCG is implementing a project to defuse tensions regarding land conflicts and land rights in key conflict-prone areas throughout the country. The country's growing population has put a strain on the small amount of arable land in Rwanda. SFCG's aim is to promote a culture of collaboration and dialogue using both radio programming and participatory theatre.

SFCG created a new radio programme as its primary tool for information and dialogue on land issue. The innovative radio programme, which began broadcasting in July 2009, combined pre-recorded materials with a live component. During the live portion of the program, audience members can call in with questions for the featured experts, sharing their experiences with land issues and the new Land Law.

In order to strengthen existing conflict management structures in Rwanda, SFCG is targeting the locally-elected Abunzi with capacity trainings in mediation and land rights. Specific sessions are seeking to clarify the Abunzis' role in the overall land reform process, as well as reinforce their knowledge and understanding of the Land Law and National Land Policy, which they are meant to be implementing. Moreover, following the targeted trainings, SFCG is sponsoring community dialogues between the Abunzi and representatives of the district Land Commissions and the Rwandan population.

Participatory theater for conflict transformation
Based on its experience in the DRC and Burundi, SFCG has developed a unique participatory theater for conflict transformation methodology, which provides a forum combining awareness raising and dialogue. The actors develop a unique scenario for each performance, which is then performed, with audience members directly involved. The spectators feel engaged in the performance, and rather than being told what to do by the actors, the audiences see their own neighbors and friends acting out new and appropriate ways to address conflict without violence. Through regional theater festivals and workshops, SFCG has shared and continues to share the methodology with Rwandan, Congolese and Burundian theater professionals. Concretely, SFCG has proceeded to identify two existing Rwandan troupes with which to work, and launch a partnership with a training series to introduce the methodology, stressing SFCG's conflict transformation messages and approach.

Regional

Génération Grands Lacs (The Great Lakes Generation)
Since October 2006, with initial funding from USAID and continued funding from the Belgian Cooperation, SFCG has produced and broadcast Génération Grands Lacs (The Great Lakes Generation), a 60- minute program that is simulcast in Rwanda, Burundi and eastern DRC through collaboration with four radio stations. Génération Grands Lacs is a youth-oriented media and outreach initiative that aims to address the root causes of conflict and the key issues youth are currently dealing with throughout the Great Lakes region.  The program is co-hosted by two youth journalists from two different countries from the different radio stations on a rotating basis with journalists from each of the three countries deployed in the field to facilitate listeners' live participation. The program is comprised of pre-produced interviews, vox-pops, reporting packages, portraits, sketches, testimonies and spots, which complement the live Q&A sessions with studio guests and interactive discussion with calls from listeners. (link to press release for GGL).

• Read SFCG's Press Release about Génération Grands Lacs - English [pdf] | Français [pdf]

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