Never Again Rwanda

The organisation’s main goal is to enhance youth's capacity to analyse the root causes of past conflicts and create space for dialogue among peers to generate ideas and action supporting conflict resolution and sustainable peace, especially for those who have lived through genocide. The organisation has twenty Never Again Clubs in secondary schools around the country that form the base of the organisation.

The clubs hope to help eliminate prejudice, inequality, and historical misunderstandings within Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Some of the clubs focus on using dialogue and discussion within their schools to teach about such things as HIV/AIDS, poverty, and gender equality. Other clubs use the arts (drama, poetry, comedy, and craft-making) to promote these same ideals and more. Some clubs raise money to pay for school-fees for those inhibited by costs.

Never Again Rwanda helps the youth clubs by providing various kinds of support. It trains club leaders in leadership, inclusive participation, advocacy and many other aspects of a productive civil society. The leaders then work with peers in peer-to-peer education. The organisation seeks donations and resources on the behalf of the clubs. Never Again Rwanda encourages partnerships with other clubs and organisations in schools, communities, and the nation “in full recognition that there are plenty of like-minded people in Rwanda and the world, that want to make a difference for the future.”

The organisation’s guiding principles are W.E.L.C.O.M.E.:

• Work - encourage participation in local and international activities around dialogue, human rights, conflict prevention, and peace.

   

• Educate - create awareness about violence, conflict, and peace related issues.

   

• Learn - address the problems and needs of those who are living and have lived in conflict.

   

• Cooperate - advocate for cooperation among youth and among other organisations to extend services to all in need.

   

• Motivate - gather youth to discuss their role in creating and sustaining peace.

   

• Encourage - promote youth cooperation through advocacy collaboration and commemoration.

Some of the organisation’s activities have included:

• building the capacity of young leaders from the Unite States and Rwanda through a Human Rights Education, Advocacy, and Action Workshop;

   

• facilitating Never Again Rwanda debate competitions to promote critical thinking, connectivity, and peace building amongst Rwandan youth and youth in other countries;

   

• holding workshop for university students to explore the source and resolution of conflict and reconciliation;

   

• mobilisation of youth to overcome social prejudices and manipulation in former Kibuye province; and

   

• facilitating a global youth genocide prevention forum.

   

Conflict, Youth.

Nearly a million people were killed in ninety days during the 1994 genocide.
Post-genocide Rwanda, ranked 159th out of 177 countries in the 2005 UNDP Human Development Index, is at a critical juncture with various political, social, and economic transitional challenges and opportunities. Over 60% of the population constitutes youth under 20. Millions of these young people are caught in the midst of society’s traumatic past, its current transitional processes, and their future expectations and responsibilities.

An assessment over four years of the organisation’s engagement with youth revealed the existence of deep-seated mistrust and limited freedom of expression as two key challenges facing today’s Rwandan youths. According to the organisation, Rwandan youth largely do not feel that their opinions or feelings matter and are not used to expressing and advocating for themselves publicly.