The Amahoro Project

Education for development and

to combat ethnic prejudice
in the Great Lakes region

Contents

CONTENTS...........................................................................................................................1

PROJECT SUMMARY...........................................................................................................5
This project is a real contribution by 420 young men and women, aged from 15 to 25, to the fight against ethnic
prejudice, which underlies all the forms of violence that have disrupted peace in the three countries of the African
Great Lakes for more than a decade. ..............................................................................................................................5
In order to put this noble dream into practise, these young people will be undertaking a community-mediation
mission, committing themselves for two years and more to practical activities, in particular:.......................................5
€274,381 over two years .................................................................................................................................................5
Partnership of Scouts of the Great Lakes.........................................................................................................................5
B.P. 550 Bujumbura / Burundi......................................................................................................................................5
Tel.: +257 23 69 48 or 22 64 41.....................................................................................................................................5
Fax: +257 21 46 74..........................................................................................................................................................5
E-mail: csgl@usan-bu.net................................................................................................................................................5

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT .....................................................................................6

1. Framework and context of the project.........................................................................................................................6
1.1. Background...............................................................................................................................................................6
The modern world is characterised by a wave of violence and conflict that is breaking over a great number of
countries, particularly in Africa. Inter-ethnic conflicts, the explosion of xenophobia, strategic and economic rivalries,
crises of governance, power struggles, armed violence etc. all spread death in these troubled countries, and in most
cases result in humanitarian disasters. Some obvious examples are the Rwandan genocide, the Darfur crisis in
Sudan, the crisis in Yugoslavia, the war in Iraq and the rebellion in Colombia..............................................................6
In conflict situations such as these, the lives of many children and young people are profoundly affected both
socially and economically due to permanent insecurity and instability. These children and young people are not only
the worst affected, but also the most actively involved in this violence. ......................................................................6
In the Great Lakes, children and young people, who constitute around 60% of the population, are among the first
victims of the suffering caused by all this violence. Many of them are also the architects of the violence,
manipulated by adults, who exploit their immaturity to foster intolerance. They are incited to take up arms against
the Government because it is headed by someone who is not from their ethnic group or region; they are the ones
who, without conscience, kill, pillage, rape and massacre entire villages of the other ethnic group or tribe, etc. ......6
For more than 10 years, the sub-region of the Great Lakes has undergone a long and severe crisis of this type. The
genocide in Rwanda, the civil war in Burundi, the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have erected walls
between people from neighbouring countries, from one and the same country, from one and the same tribe and from
one and the same family. ................................................................................................................................................6
However, thanks to international pressure and the willingness and determination of groups who are tired of this cycle
of violence, here and there signs of a return to peace can be seen. Electoral procedures are underway in Burundi and
in the D.R. of Congo, the desire for negotiation between the Rwandan rebels of the FDLR and the Government has
become more pressing, etc. However, the return to peace will be precarious if the causes of the violence are not
eradicated, particularly the prejudice that is currently well anchored within the various social strata of the countries
of the sub-region. Indeed, politicians exploit this prejudice to remain in power. Parents incite their children against
the children of others, encouraging prejudice and stereotypes. The wars between these countries have developed a
chauvinistic mentality among the population. ................................................................................................................6
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These young people, though actively involved in the violence, can also become a precious resource for promoting
lasting peace in the region, if we commit to involving them positively in the peace process. The national scouting
organisations of these countries have understood this and, in 1996, initiated a sub-regional movement with the aim of
including the themes of a culture of peace and peaceful management of conflicts in their programme of education for
young people. These national organisations have developed productive experiences, varying from one country to
the next depending on the nature of the crisis. Determined to work for a lasting peace, t this sub-regional movement
aims to use its "Partnership of Scouts of the Great Lakes" programme to bring together huge numbers of young
scouts and non-scouts in the fight against ethnic prejudice within the various communities of the countries of the
Great Lakes. ....................................................................................................................................................................6
Location of the project and geographical areas of intervention by mediators.................................................................7
These are provinces that have been occupied by armed groups of rebels or which host refugee camps for people
displaced by war, or which include sites where victims of the civil war in Burundi were massacred............................7
These territories are in turmoil, occupied by mai-mai, banyamulenge, interahamwe rebel groups and other armed
factions of the FDLR in Rwanda. These areas have witnessed severe inter-ethnic or tribal violence. Finally, the
towns concerned have played host to Rwandan refugees and people displaced by war. ...............................................7
As the D.R. Congo is a country of continental size, only the provinces of Kivu are affected by this project, in that
their inhabitants have many cultural similarities with their neighbours in Rwanda and Burundi. .................................7
These are provinces whose populations are currently fleeing to take refuge in Burundi and Uganda. They are also
considered to be centres of tension, or harbour the major sites of the Rwandan genocide.............................................8
1.2. Experience gained by the PSGL...............................................................................................................................8
Faced with this severe situation of crisis in the sub-region, the national scouting Associations, which since 1996 have
been organised into a sub-regional movement called the "Partnership of Scouts of the Great Lakes" (PSGL), have
committed themselves more strongly to restoring peace. They have included in their Youth Programme special
educational activities to promote peace and non-violence, positive values, and the peaceful management and
resolution of conflicts. ....................................................................................................................................................8
The activities they have developed (both jointly and individually) are directed by the sub-regional Executive
Secretariat, in the first case, and by the member Organisations, in the second. The member organisations are the
scout Associations of Rwanda, Burundi, and of North and South Kivu in the East of the D.R. Congo. An example of
one of the PSGL’s joint activities was the 1st sub-regional scout jamboree of the Great Lakes region.........................8
On the individual level, the PSGL has carried out concrete actions in education and peace promotion, particularly
sub-regional peace events and a sub-regional jamboree on the theme of "Together towards lasting peace and
development". With the aim of promoting a culture of peace and democracy, the PSGL is also working in synergy
with national and international organisations, both scout and non-scout. For example, it held workshops on peace at
the worldwide Jamboree in Chile and at the International Assembly held at Yamoussoukro in Côte d’Ivoire. It also
coordinated the international workshops organised in the "Peace Area" of the World Development Village at the
world scout jamboree in Thailand. It is currently carrying out a project to boost the capacities for peace education of
young people’s associations and organisations...............................................................................................................8
Using its sub-regional and international experience, it now aims to organise this "Amahoro" Project to train
community mediators in the Great Lakes........................................................................................................................8
The PSGL peace education project has taken firm root in the scouting Associations of the Great Lakes. Several scout
groups have been twinned with other groups from the same country or from neighbouring countries. In various
places, a large number of peace and development activities are taking place, organised by the PSGL for the young
members of these scout groups. The scouts participate willingly and enthusiastically in these activities, performing
good deeds and services to the community such as: clean-up operations in towns, the restoration of water sources of
water and health centres, voluntary giving of blood, replanting of trees on hills and in towns, building of houses
(huts) for people displaced by war or refugees, collecting rubbish etc. ........................................................................8
These scouts are well organised, and receive training in how to take an active part in changing their communities,
thanks to the youth programme of the associations forming the PSGL and thanks to the projects carried out by these
associations with the financial support of their local, national and international partners..............................................8
The principle areas in which scouting helps to promote community development in the Great Lakes region are
vocational training for young people in difficulty, habitat, wild life and the environment, health, food and nutrition,
as well as peace................................................................................................................................................................8
Through this project, we want to inspire young people to undertake initiatives to promote and maintain lasting peace
in the sub-region by combating ethnic prejudice, one of the principle sources of conflict in the Great Lakes. .............9
This project aims to provide a means for young people to increase their skills and adopt positive attitudes when
conducting activities of mediation, reconciliation and peaceful resolution of conflicts; young people working in
synergy with their peers in other countries (in Europe for example) to promote a culture of peace across the world. . 9

2. Implementation of the project.......................................................................................................................................9

2. 1. Objectives of the project..........................................................................................................................................9
2. 2. Realisation of objectives and activities .................................................................................................................10
To train and put into action 420 community mediators able to contribute to social change in their community ........10
Young men and women aged 15 to 25 will be trained to become mediators for peace in their communities, capable of
combating ethnic prejudice and helping people to manage conflicts without violence, and to act as multipliers able to

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bring together other young people (scouts or non-scouts) who are committed to the struggle against racial hatred and
violence. ........................................................................................................................................................................10
The mediators will also organise the following activities within their respective communities:..................................10
Participants will be selected in each scout region in Burundi, in each scout province in Rwanda and in each scout
district in North and South Kivu in D.R. Congo, in accordance with the criteria set out below. Those selected must:
.......................................................................................................................................................................................11
The successful candidates will be drawn from the three countries as follows:.......................................................11
The selection will be made by ad hoc committees set up by the Executive of each member Association...................11
A circular setting out the recruitment criteria and timetable will be published in September 2005 to announce the
beginning of recruitment of community mediators in the Great Lakes ........................................................................11
By the end of October 2005, the sub-regional Secretariat of the PSGL will have a list of 420 community mediators
for training in the Great Lakes region............................................................................................................................11
During the period November-December 2005, training courses for community mediators will be organised in the 3
countries of the Great Lakes under the supervision of the Partnership of Scouts of the Great Lakes...........................11
This aim is to train the community mediators in the following skills:..........................................................................11
From January 2006, the community mediators will therefore be operational in the sub-region under the supervision
of their educators, who will also provide them with support in their daily work. ........................................................12
To put into place a permanent system of training and support for community mediators............................................12
The course for trainers of community mediators will include the following modules: ................................................12
o To reinforce, consolidate and evaluate the experiences of the community mediators in regional and international
cooperation.....................................................................................................................................................................13
Two types of activities to achieve this objective: Mediator Peace Caravans and the International Peace Rally .........13
This involves a “peace hike”, which will take place in July 2006 (around 100km). The purpose is to share with other
mediators the experiences gained and the skills acquired during the work in the field. The caravans will consist of a
mix of the mediators from the three countries. They will leave their different geographic areas to converge on the
administrative centres of their countries (Burundi and Rwanda) and of their provinces (North and South Kivu). At
each stop on the way, peace celebrations will be organised with the local communities, and along the route the
participants will continue to promote peace and reconciliation. Through these caravans, the participants will learn to
appreciate and accept one another, and to live in a climate of solidarity and mutual understanding in the fight against
xenophobia and ethnic hatred. .....................................................................................................................................13
When these caravans reach their destinations, "Guides and Scouts of the World" certificates and badges will be
awarded to the community mediators. Finally, the "Guides and Scouts of the World" winners will make a
commitment to continue their activities in combating prejudice in 2006 and beyond. ................................................13
This is the final stage of the project. It is an opportunity to consolidate and evaluate the activities of the peace
mediators by comparing the experiences of the networks from the various countries at a large peace rally at Gitega in
Burundi. This rally will bring together the 420 community mediators, delegations of the agents of peace, the 40
mediator trainers, and young and adult guests from the other countries.......................................................................13
The working method at the International Peace Camp will make it possible to evaluate the impact of the community
mediators on the ground, the number of trained agents of peace, the number of operational clubs of peace and
reconciliation and the actions in which they have engaged. This evaluation will provide pointers for the development
of the project over a further period of two years, with a larger number of mediators and agents of peace to be trained
and put into action..........................................................................................................................................................13
This International Peace Rally will be organised in five stages, leading up to an act of commitment on the part of the
participants, as follows:.................................................................................................................................................14
Stage 1: Exploration.......................................................................................................................................................14
This stage serves as a trigger, tackling real fears in getting the symposium started, using the following tools:..........14
Stage 2: Historical background .....................................................................................................................................14
Accounts of peace-building activities. This will provide mutual enrichment based on talks to plenary sessions on
ground-breaking activities undertaken by certain organisations...................................................................................14
Stage 2: Development....................................................................................................................................................14
This stage will consist partly of talks by specialists, partly of accounts given by of peace activists. ..........................14
The accounts will be presented using an the approach involving the active participation of young people: the “peace
practices market”. .........................................................................................................................................................14
The specialists will help to answer questions such as: "How do you carry out peace activities with young people
during and after a crisis?" ...........................................................................................................................................14
Stage 4: Meeting with communities .............................................................................................................................14
The participants will be active in the local situation, going into the local community and hosting activities such as the
following: ......................................................................................................................................................................14
Stage 5: Commitment for the future..............................................................................................................................14
Investiture (with medals) of the Mediators of Peace.....................................................................................................14

3. Calendar of activities....................................................................................................................................................14
Year 1: July 2005 – July 2006.......................................................................................................................................14
Year 2: August 2006 - August 2007..............................................................................................................................15

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4. Expected results, evaluation and follow-up of the project........................................................................................15

4.1. Expected results......................................................................................................................................................15
4.2. Criteria for evaluating the actions of community mediators:.................................................................................15
4.3. Follow-up of the project.........................................................................................................................................16
Follow-up will be provided by the personnel of the Permanent Executive Secretariat by means of site visits,
coordination of joint and individual activities and supervision of the mediator trainers. The Mediators' reports will be
analysed at the executive Secretariat and circulars will be produced to encourage the mediators to improve their
work. The Permanent Executive Secretariat will, in its turn, be supervised by the coordination Committee, with
assistance and advice from the Regional Office of Scouting based in Nairobi.............................................................16
The structure for the execution and follow-up of the project therefore consists of two levels: ...................................16
1° General supervision, which will be done by delegates from the following organisations: ......................................16
2° Follow-up by the Permanent Executive Secretariat, which will operate at the headquarters of the PSGL and will
include the following people..........................................................................................................................................16
The three assistants must be young volunteers and the recruitment process will take into account the "gender" aspect.
They will have a two-year contract, which will terminate after the international peace rally. The duties and terms of
reference for these staff members will be drawn up before they are appointed, in accordance with the procedure set
out in the administrative Regulations of the PSGL.......................................................................................................16

5. Detailed budget of the project ....................................................................................................................................17

Year 1: September 2005 – June 2006............................................................................................................................17
Year 2: July 2006 – September 2007 (15 months)........................................................................................................18

APPENDIX...........................................................................................................................19
1. Map of the sub-region..................................................................................................................................................19

2. The host country and the site of the rally...................................................................................................................20

The host country: Burundi.............................................................................................................................................20
In terms of its experiences of conflict and of peace, Burundi can serve as an example for Africa and the rest of the
world from several points of view: as an example of a humanitarian disaster, of inter-ethnic massacres, of civil war,
of agreements for peace and reconciliation and of electoral processes.........................................................................20
Since independence, Burundi has known periods of unrest, marked by crises of confidence and massacres between
its people groups, in 1969 and 1972, then in the crisis of 1993 and the civil war that resulted from it........................20
Social life has been devastated, with the disappearance of entire families (around 200,000 people killed), thousands
of women widowed, several thousands of abandoned children, several thousands of people displaced to the
neighbouring countries and a large majority of the population displaced within the country, countless cases of rape,
and much more. .............................................................................................................................................................20
Analysing the causes of this crisis of confidence and of these massacres can help people to understand and to avoid
similar situations, both in Burundi itself and in neighbouring countries. Showing great courage, Burundese society
has faced up to the consequences of the crisis, managing the acute problems arising from the broken relationships
between the different components of its population, and concluding agreements to promote peace, reconciliation,
power sharing, national unity and economic rehabilitation. .........................................................................................20
Burundese men, women and children have risen up to rebuild their country, to fight for the restoration of peace and
for fundamental change in their society. Many positive initiatives have been taken at the level of grass-roots
communities and youth organisations. Where human rights are concerned, work has been done not only on the
practical aspects of reconstruction but also in terms of initiatives to overcome social tension, to bring about social
change and to restore confidence. .................................................................................................................................20
Obviously, faced with this potential source of conflict, the Burundi Scouting Association, like all other players, has
been a little shaken, but has not given up on its ideal. Far from weakening the association, this crisis has on the
contrary demonstrated the association’s strength and its ability to bring together young people of different ethnic
groups despite the unrest within the Burundese population. This is demonstrated by several initiatives organised for
the benefit of displaced Burundese people (since 1993), refugees from Rwanda (in 1995), Congo (2004), and
reconstruction camps organised in various places.........................................................................................................20
The constantly growing membership, drawn from all backgrounds (educational and non-educational) also shows the
enthusiasm of young people to belong to an organisation whose moral integrity no longer has to be proved and where
many and varied activities allow young people to develop in a rounded way in all fields. From 10,000 before the
crisis of 1993, the membership has grown to more than 15,000 in 2005......................................................................20
In this way, young people have found that the scout movement provides a favourable framework for emancipation,
for making friends and realising their dreams. In short, in scouting young people find the things that meet their needs
and aspirations. .............................................................................................................................................................20
Description and location of the host site .......................................................................................................................20

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Gitega is Burundi's second city, after the capital Bujumbura. It was founded in 1912 during German colonisation as a
new site for the capital of Burundi, which until then had been Bujumbura. In this way, the colonisers hoped to
facilitate the administration of the territory by situating the capital in the centre of the country. ................................20
The city of Gitega, surrounded by mountains, is thus situated in the middle of the country, 102km to the East of
Bujumbura, in the central plains area. It therefore benefits from a temperate tropical climate, with average annual
temperatures varying between 17° and 20°C.................................................................................................................20

PROJECT SUMMARY
1. Identification
 Name of the project: "AMAHORO PROJECT" Training of community mediators in the Great
Lakes region
 Project performed by (organiser): Partnership of Scouts of the Great Lakes (PSGL)
 Period: September 2005 – September 2007
 Location: Sub-region of the Great Lakes (Burundi - Rwanda - East of the DR Congo)
2. Summary

This project is a real contribution by 420 young men and women, aged from 15 to 25, to the
fight against ethnic prejudice, which underlies all the forms of violence that have disrupted
peace in the three countries of the African Great Lakes for more than a decade.

In order to put this noble dream into practise, these young people will be undertaking a
community-mediation mission, committing themselves for two years and more to practical
activities, in particular:
 organising public awareness campaigns in schools and other public places on the themes of
peaceful cohabitation and the fight against ethnic prejudice, using appropriate methods;
 establishing peace and reconciliation clubs for young people from different ethnic
backgrounds;
 organising regular peace and reconciliation days within the communities concerned;
 active participation by delegates from the peace and reconciliation clubs in village or
neighbourhood councils.
3. Total cost of the project:

€274,381 over two years

4. Persons in charge of the Project
 Legal representative: the President of the Coordination Committee of the PSGL
 Operations manager: Gilbert Mussumba, sub-regional Executive Secretary
 Technical support: African Regional Bureau of Scouting
5. Contact

Partnership of Scouts of the Great Lakes

B.P. 550 Bujumbura / Burundi

Tel.: +257 23 69 48 or 22 64 41

Fax: +257 21 46 74

E-mail: csgl@usan-bu.net

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

1. Framework and context of the project

1.1. Background
The Great Lakes Region and ethnic conflict
The modern world is characterised by a wave of violence and conflict that is breaking over a
great number of countries, particularly in Africa. Inter-ethnic conflicts, the explosion of
xenophobia, strategic and economic rivalries, crises of governance, power struggles, armed
violence etc. all spread death in these troubled countries, and in most cases result in
humanitarian disasters. Some obvious examples are the Rwandan genocide, the Darfur crisis
in Sudan, the crisis in Yugoslavia, the war in Iraq and the rebellion in Colombia.

In conflict situations such as these, the lives of many children and young people are profoundly
affected both socially and economically due to permanent insecurity and instability. These
children and young people are not only the worst affected, but also the most actively involved
in this violence.

In the Great Lakes, children and young people, who constitute around 60% of the population,
are among the first victims of the suffering caused by all this violence. Many of them are also
the architects of the violence, manipulated by adults, who exploit their immaturity to foster
intolerance. They are incited to take up arms against the Government because it is headed by
someone who is not from their ethnic group or region; they are the ones who, without
conscience, kill, pillage, rape and massacre entire villages of the other ethnic group or tribe,
etc.

For more than 10 years, the sub-region of the Great Lakes has undergone a long and severe
crisis of this type. The genocide in Rwanda, the civil war in Burundi, the war in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, have erected walls between people from neighbouring countries, from one
and the same country, from one and the same tribe and from one and the same family.

However, thanks to international pressure and the willingness and determination of groups
who are tired of this cycle of violence, here and there signs of a return to peace can be seen.
Electoral procedures are underway in Burundi and in the D.R. of Congo, the desire for
negotiation between the Rwandan rebels of the FDLR and the Government has become more
pressing, etc. However, the return to peace will be precarious if the causes of the violence are
not eradicated, particularly the prejudice that is currently well anchored within the various
social strata of the countries of the sub-region. Indeed, politicians exploit this prejudice to
remain in power. Parents incite their children against the children of others, encouraging
prejudice and stereotypes. The wars between these countries have developed a chauvinistic
mentality among the population.

These young people, though actively involved in the violence, can also become a precious
resource for promoting lasting peace in the region, if we commit to involving them positively in
the peace process. The national scouting organisations of these countries have understood
this and, in 1996, initiated a sub-regional movement with the aim of including the themes of a
culture of peace and peaceful management of conflicts in their programme of education for
young people. These national organisations have developed productive experiences, varying
from one country to the next depending on the nature of the crisis. Determined to work for a
lasting peace, t this sub-regional movement aims to use its "Partnership of Scouts of the Great
Lakes" programme to bring together huge numbers of young scouts and non-scouts in the
fight against ethnic prejudice within the various communities of the countries of the Great
Lakes.

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Location of the project and geographical areas of intervention by mediators

In Burundi
o Rural Bujumbura
o Bururi
o Makamba
o Rutana
o Cyakuzo
o Muyinga
o Gitega
o Municipality of Bujumbura and Cibitoke

These are provinces that have been occupied by armed groups of rebels or which host refugee
camps for people displaced by war, or which include sites where victims of the civil war in
Burundi were massacred.
In D.R. Congo
o North Kivu (Beni, Lubero, Kanyabayonga, Masisi and Goma)
o South Kivu (Uvira, Walungu, Kalehe, Fizi, Mwenga, Bukavu)

These territories are in turmoil, occupied by mai-mai, banyamulenge, interahamwe rebel

groups and other armed factions of the FDLR in Rwanda. These areas have witnessed severe
inter-ethnic or tribal violence. Finally, the towns concerned have played host to Rwandan
refugees and people displaced by war.

As the D.R. Congo is a country of continental size, only the provinces of Kivu are affected by
this project, in that their inhabitants have many cultural similarities with their neighbours in
Rwanda and Burundi.
In Rwanda
o Kibungo
o Umutara
o Ruhengeri
o Gisenyi
o Gikongoro
o Cyangugu
o Butare
o Kigali

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These are provinces whose populations are currently fleeing to take refuge in Burundi and
Uganda. They are also considered to be centres of tension, or harbour the major sites of the
Rwandan genocide.

1.2. Experience gained by the PSGL

The Partnership of Scouts of the Great Lakes (PSGL)
Faced with this severe situation of crisis in the sub-region, the national scouting Associations,
which since 1996 have been organised into a sub-regional movement called the "Partnership of
Scouts of the Great Lakes" (PSGL), have committed themselves more strongly to restoring
peace. They have included in their Youth Programme special educational activities to promote
peace and non-violence, positive values, and the peaceful management and resolution of
conflicts.

The activities they have developed (both jointly and individually) are directed by the sub-
regional Executive Secretariat, in the first case, and by the member Organisations, in the
second. The member organisations are the scout Associations of Rwanda, Burundi, and of
North and South Kivu in the East of the D.R. Congo. An example of one of the PSGL’s joint
activities was the 1st sub-regional1 scout jamboree of the Great Lakes region.

On the individual level, the PSGL has carried out concrete actions in education and peace
promotion, particularly sub-regional peace events and a sub-regional jamboree on the theme
of "Together towards lasting peace and development". With the aim of promoting a culture of
peace and democracy, the PSGL is also working in synergy with national and international
organisations, both scout and non-scout. For example, it held workshops on peace at the
worldwide Jamboree in Chile and at the International Assembly held at Yamoussoukro in Côte
d’Ivoire. It also coordinated the international workshops organised in the "Peace Area" of the
World Development Village at the world scout jamboree in Thailand. It is currently carrying out
a project to boost the capacities for peace education of young people’s associations and
organisations.

Using its sub-regional and international experience, it now aims to organise this "Amahoro"
Project to train community mediators in the Great Lakes.
Young people and community development
The PSGL peace education project has taken firm root in the scouting Associations of the Great
Lakes. Several scout groups have been twinned with other groups from the same country or
from neighbouring countries. In various places, a large number of peace and development
activities are taking place, organised by the PSGL for the young members of these scout
groups. The scouts participate willingly and enthusiastically in these activities, performing good
deeds and services to the community such as: clean-up operations in towns, the restoration of
water sources of water and health centres, voluntary giving of blood, replanting of trees on
hills and in towns, building of houses (huts) for people displaced by war or refugees, collecting
rubbish etc.

These scouts are well organised, and receive training in how to take an active part in changing
their communities, thanks to the youth programme of the associations forming the PSGL and
thanks to the projects carried out by these associations with the financial support of their local,
national and international partners.

The principle areas in which scouting helps to promote community development in the Great
Lakes region are vocational training for young people in difficulty, habitat, wild life and the
environment, health, food and nutrition, as well as peace.
What we have learned
 Young people represent not only the most vulnerable part of society, but also its most
dynamic part. Young people may or may not contribute to maintaining peace, depending
on how they are trained or manipulated by adults.

1
A Jamboree is an international scout rally.

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 Young people can easily become workers for peace if they learn the values of sharing,
diversity and mutual respect, and if they have the opportunity to work alongside other
young people from different ethnic groups, tribes or families, in carrying out different
activities. When they become adults, they will be able to cooperate in solving major social
issues and problems and to measure themselves with others without prejudice.
 Exchange of experiences between national organisations and cross-border groups is an
effective means of promoting the intercultural and international dimension of peace.
 Educating young people in non-violent attitudes is the concern of all members of society.
Working in synergy allows us to unite our efforts to strengthen actions and capacities
intended to safeguard and promote peace.
 The issue of peace is not limited solely to the problem of war. Violence is everywhere, both
hidden and visible. The education we provide must also be oriented towards management
of conflicts and the fight against ethnic prejudice in the minds of young people, in our
families, in schools, in our scout groups, in the workplace, in parks, in the streets, in the
media etc.
Conclusions for the design of the present project
Through this project, we want to inspire young people to undertake initiatives to promote and
maintain lasting peace in the sub-region by combating ethnic prejudice, one of the principle
sources of conflict in the Great Lakes.

This project aims to provide a means for young people to increase their skills and adopt
positive attitudes when conducting activities of mediation, reconciliation and peaceful
resolution of conflicts; young people working in synergy with their peers in other countries (in
Europe for example) to promote a culture of peace across the world.

2. Implementation of the project

2. 1. Objectives of the project
Overall objective
 Over a period of two years, to mobilise and engage several thousand young people at the
heart of the population in fostering a movement to reject ethnic prejudice among the
younger generation and inspire young people to make a real contribution to social change
and bring lasting peace to the Great Lakes region.
Specific objectives
o To train and put into action 420 community mediators able to contribute to social
change in their communities by bringing together other young people to promote peace
and community development.
o To put in place a permanent system of training and support for community mediators
o To reinforce, consolidate and evaluate the experiences of the community mediators in
regional and international cooperation

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2. 2. Realisation of objectives and activities

Objective 1
To train and put into action 420 community mediators able to contribute to social
change in their community

Young men and women aged 15 to 25 will be trained to become mediators for peace in their
communities, capable of combating ethnic prejudice and helping people to manage conflicts
without violence, and to act as multipliers able to bring together other young people (scouts or
non-scouts) who are committed to the struggle against racial hatred and violence.
a. Role of community mediators
o To identify the symptoms that underlie conflicts and violence, and to combat ethnic
prejudice in their community;
o To inform their community about the roots and causes of conflicts in their countries and
make them more aware of how to manage these conflicts peacefully;
o To intervene in conflict situations using dialogue, negotiation or mediation;
o Over two years, to train 50 young people aged 15 to 25, giving them the motivation and
means to fight against ethnic prejudice and violence and engage them in serving the
community.
b. Principal activities of mediators
 To organise, in schools and other public places, awareness campaigns for the population on
the theme of living together peacefully, rejecting ethnic prejudice and resisting genocide,
using:
o Public presentation of plays, sketches, poems, simulation games etc.
o Cultural evenings
o Sports events
 To prepare and host one-day sessions to give other young people the motivation and skills
to become "agents of peace" (reference: peace education manual). At the end of this
session, the young people will be invited to make a statement whereby they swear to
respect the dignity of everyone, reject ethnic prejudice, and adopt and practice the
principles of active non-violence when participating in the settlement of conflicts within
their communities. They will receive an "agent of peace" card. They will become members
of a peace and reconciliation club to carry out actions promoting peace and community
development, working together with the councils of the village or neighbourhood.
c. Other activities of mediators

The mediators will also organise the following activities within their respective communities:
 Investigations into the conflicts that exist within their communities
 Regular attendance at meetings of community structures (Intahe in Burundi, Gacaca in
Rwanda and Baraza in Democratic Congo)2
 To decide, in a small group of mediators, on measures to prevent and/or resolve peacefully
the conflicts that exist within their community
 Organisation of debates, talks and meetings with other young people on the subject of the
conflicts taking place in the community, on the themes of solidarity, mutual acceptance,
harmony in diversity (location: schools, boarding schools, entertainment venues)
 Organisation, through the medium of clubs for peace and reconciliation, of activities to
provide moral and material assistance for victims of conflict and other people in need
(prisoners, the wounded etc.); appealing for and distributing food and clothes, visits to
2
Intahe, Gacaca and Baraza are the names used to describe councils of wise men/elders respectively in Burundi, in
Rwanda and in the East of the DR Congo

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those displaced by war, to refugees and prisoners, presentation of awareness games,

educational entertainment for the children of displaced people or refugees, voluntary giving
of blood
 Organisation of solidarity days with refugees, people displaced by war or other vulnerable
people
 Reforesting of sites that have been occupied by refugees, and combating the spread of
HIV/Aids
 Building, with other young people, houses for vulnerable people (old, disabled etc.) in the
villages wherever there is need, using local materials (wood, straw, etc.)
 Make the community, and especially young people, aware of the need for positive
behaviour during electoral and post-electoral periods
d. Recruitment of community mediators

Participants will be selected in each scout region in Burundi, in each scout province in Rwanda
and in each scout district in North and South Kivu in D.R. Congo, in accordance with the
criteria set out below. Those selected must:
 be aged 15 – 25
 have taken part in an activity promoting peace
 be resident within the geographical area of intervention
 have a thorough knowledge of their village or neighbourhood
 be aware of the events that have been a threat to peace in their country
 have taken part in a social development initiative in their community
 be capable of identifying vulnerable people in their area, and their needs
 be able to express themselves in public
 be regarded as a man or a woman of peace within their community (be non-violent in
character)

The successful candidates will be drawn from the three countries as follows:
 Burundi: 140 young people from 3 geographical zones
 Rwanda: 120 young people from 3 geographical zones
 North Kivu: 80 young people from 2 geographical zones
 South Kivu: 80 young people from 2 geographical zones

The selection will be made by ad hoc committees set up by the Executive of each member
Association.

A circular setting out the recruitment criteria and timetable will be published in September
2005 to announce the beginning of recruitment of community mediators in the Great Lakes

By the end of October 2005, the sub-regional Secretariat of the PSGL will have a list of 420
community mediators for training in the Great Lakes region.
e. Training of community mediators

During the period November-December 2005, training courses for community mediators will be
organised in the 3 countries of the Great Lakes under the supervision of the Partnership of
Scouts of the Great Lakes.

This aim is to train the community mediators in the following skills:

 Ability to transform a culture of violence into a culture of peace.
 Ability to negotiate or mediate in a conflict situation.

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 Ability to identify and analyse the symptoms of intolerance that exist within their
community (stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, inappropriate language, poking fun,
exclusion, segregation, repression, etc.) and to recognise negative attitudes such as
chauvinism, maladjustment and aggression, xenophobia, etc.
 Ability to devise, elaborate and execute a peace promotion project, and to direct a cultural
event.
 Ability to prepare and deliver a training session for young agents of the peace (reference
"Peace Education Manual").
 Ability to put into practice the skills acquired in:
o Peaceful management of conflicts (prevention and resolution);
o Education of peers (discussion, simulation games, role plays);
o Planning;
o Techniques involved in providing information, raising awareness, communication and
cooperation

From January 2006, the community mediators will therefore be operational in the sub-region
under the supervision of their educators, who will also provide them with support in their daily
work.
Objective 2
To put into place a permanent system of training and support for community
mediators
a. Role of mediator trainers
 To prepare and host training courses for community mediators
 To supervise the activities of the mediator groups
 To provide support on the ground for mediators in performing their tasks
 To provide a link between the scout Association and the groups
 To monitor the activities of conflict management committees within their area of
responsibility
b. Content of the course for mediator trainers

The course for trainers of community mediators will include the following modules:
 The role and competence of mediators
 The role of trainers in the project
 Basic notions of peace (definition of basic concepts)
 Management and prevention of conflicts
 Intervention in a conflict situation: dialogue/negotiation, mediation, restorative justice
 The tools used in peace education and combating ethnic prejudice
 Non-violent communication
 Cultural diversity and social change
 The tools used in peace education and promotion
o Preparation and management of a project (for peace)
o Planning the activities of a community mediator
c. Programme of training and activities for trainers:
 In September 2005, each member Association of the PSGL will send the permanent
executive Secretariat a list of trainee educators for peace in the following manner:

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o Burundi Scouting Association: 12 trainee candidates

o Rwanda Scouting Association: 12 trainee candidates
o North Kivu Scouting Association: 8 trainee candidates
o South Kivu Scouting Association: 8 trainee candidates
 In October 2005, a course for community mediator trainers will be organised in Bukavu (40
in total).
 And from November 2005, they will begin in their turn to train community mediators in
their geographic areas, then provide them with educational support in fulfilling their tasks.
They will have to draft and transmit a report on the activities of community mediators
to the permanent executive Secretariat of the PSGL (with a copy to their own association),
which serves as focal point for the project.
Objective 3
o To reinforce, consolidate and evaluate the experiences of the community
mediators in regional and international cooperation

Two types of activities to achieve this objective: Mediator Peace Caravans and the
International Peace Rally
a. Community mediator peace caravans

This involves a “peace hike”, which will take place in July 2006 (around 100km). The purpose
is to share with other mediators the experiences gained and the skills acquired during the work
in the field. The caravans will consist of a mix of the mediators from the three countries. They
will leave their different geographic areas to converge on the administrative centres of their
countries (Burundi and Rwanda) and of their provinces (North and South Kivu). At each stop
on the way, peace celebrations will be organised with the local communities, and along the
route the participants will continue to promote peace and reconciliation. Through these
caravans, the participants will learn to appreciate and accept one another, and to live in a
climate of solidarity and mutual understanding in the fight against xenophobia and ethnic
hatred.

When these caravans reach their destinations, "Guides and Scouts of the World" certificates
and badges will be awarded to the community mediators. Finally, the "Guides and Scouts of
the World" winners will make a commitment to continue their activities in combating prejudice
in 2006 and beyond.
b. International peace rally

This is the final stage of the project. It is an opportunity to consolidate and evaluate the
activities of the peace mediators by comparing the experiences of the networks from the
various countries at a large peace rally at Gitega in Burundi. This rally will bring together the
420 community mediators, delegations of the agents of peace, the 40 mediator trainers, and
young and adult guests from the other countries.

The working method at the International Peace Camp will make it possible to evaluate the
impact of the community mediators on the ground, the number of trained agents of peace, the
number of operational clubs of peace and reconciliation and the actions in which they have
engaged. This evaluation will provide pointers for the development of the project over a further
period of two years, with a larger number of mediators and agents of peace to be trained and
put into action.
 Audiovisual presentations
o Drama presentations
o Screening of films
o Talks using audio-visual aids
 Interactive approach:

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o Market for peace practices

o Guided tours
o Small-group workshops
o Meeting with local communities
o Interactive stands run by the mediator networks

This International Peace Rally will be organised in five stages, leading up to an act of
commitment on the part of the participants, as follows:

Stage 1: Exploration

This stage serves as a trigger, tackling real fears in getting the symposium started, using the
following tools:
 Screening of films
 Drama presentations
 Visits to camps of displaced people
 Visits to sites of the Rwandan genocide (memorial)

Stage 2: Historical background

Accounts of peace-building activities. This will provide mutual enrichment based on talks to
plenary sessions on ground-breaking activities undertaken by certain organisations.

Stage 2: Development

This stage will consist partly of talks by specialists, partly of accounts given by of peace
activists.

The accounts will be presented using an the approach involving the active participation of
young people: the “peace practices market”.

The specialists will help to answer questions such as: "How do you carry out peace activities
with young people during and after a crisis?"

Stage 4: Meeting with communities

The participants will be active in the local situation, going into the local community and hosting
activities such as the following:
 Entertainment for children in difficult situations
 Promotion of peace within marginalized groups (communities receiving members of such
groups)
 Visit to the escapees of the Rwandan genocide
 International peace market

Stage 5: Commitment for the future

Investiture (with medals) of the Mediators of Peace

3. Calendar of activities
Year 1: July 2005 – July 2006
1. September 2005: Project start-up (raising awareness of the partner associations)
2. October 2005: Training course for the 40 peace trainers over 5 days in Bukavu.
3. November – December 2005: Training courses for community mediators (3 days /
session) in the 3 countries of the Great Lakes:

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 Burundi: Ngozi, Gitega and Makamba pools

 Rwanda: Ruhengeri, Butare and Umutara pools
 North Kivu (DR Congo): Goma and Butembo pools
 South Kivu (DR Congo): Bukavu and Uvira pools.
4. January – June 2006: Work on the ground by the mediators, supervised by the trainers
and coordinated by the permanent executive secretariat of the PSGL.
5. July - August 2006: Peace caravan of 420 mediators and of the Teams of Supporters
and Truckers of the partner associations.

Year 2: August 2006 - August 2007

6. August 2006 - August 2007:
 Work on the ground by the community mediators, supervised by the trainers and
coordinated by the permanent executive secretariat of the PSGL;
 Use of the "mediator networks - partner teams" peer relationships, coordinated and
supervised by the permanent executive secretariat.
7. July - August 2007: Evaluation and consolidation of the Mediators' experiences at an
International Peace Rally in Gitega (Burundi)

4. Expected results, evaluation and follow-up of the project

4.1. Expected results
 40 community mediator trainers trained;
 A network of 420 community mediators active in 10 zones over the three countries;
 Training of 21,000 young agents of peace;
 Creation of 400 clubs for peace and reconciliation;
 Launch of hundreds of activities promoting peace and community development in these
zones.

4.2. Criteria for evaluating the actions of community mediators:

 Number of mediator trainers trained;
 Type of support provided by the educators to the mediators on the ground, and frequency
of intervention;
 Number of mediators trained;
 Number of agents of peace trained;
 Number of operational clubs for peace and reconciliation;
 Number, nature and quality of the projects promoting peace and community development
carried out by the clubs;
 Nature of the conflicts into which the mediators have carried out investigations
 Types of solutions proposed for the conflicts identified
 Number of conflicts positively resolved and/or prevented during the project in each area
concerned
 The positive behaviour of the mediators in carrying out their tasks
 Number of debates, talks and meetings organised by the mediators for the benefit of the
young people in their communities
 The skills in management and conflict prevention acquired during the project

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 Changes of behaviour in the beneficiary communities

 Accounts of project beneficiaries (local population)
 Level of relationship linking the groups of mediators to the community structures (Baraza,
Gacaca, Intahe, Nyumbakumi)
 The presence of groups of mediators over the entire planned geographic area
 Results achieved at the International Peace Camp

4.3. Follow-up of the project

Follow-up will be provided by the personnel of the Permanent Executive Secretariat by means
of site visits, coordination of joint and individual activities and supervision of the mediator
trainers. The Mediators' reports will be analysed at the executive Secretariat and circulars will
be produced to encourage the mediators to improve their work. The Permanent Executive
Secretariat will, in its turn, be supervised by the coordination Committee, with assistance and
advice from the Regional Office of Scouting based in Nairobi.

The structure for the execution and follow-up of the project therefore consists of two levels:

1° General supervision, which will be done by delegates from the following

organisations:
 The coordination Committee of the PSGL, as board of directors of the PSGL
 The World Scouting Bureau / Africa region, for technical support

2° Follow-up by the Permanent Executive Secretariat, which will operate at the

headquarters of the PSGL and will include the following people
 The Director of the project (Permanent Executive Secretary of the PSGL)
 Educational assistant in charge of the programme
 Educational assistant in charge of socio-cultural activities, media and communication
 Administration and finance assistant
 Executive secretary
 One volunteer to provide support for the two educational Assistants

The three assistants must be young volunteers and the recruitment process will take into
account the "gender" aspect. They will have a two-year contract, which will terminate after the
international peace rally. The duties and terms of reference for these staff members will be
drawn up before they are appointed, in accordance with the procedure set out in the
administrative Regulations of the PSGL.

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5. Detailed budget of the project

Year 1: September 2005 – June 2006

Breakdown of items Number of units Unit cost in € Total cost in

€
1. Training course for trainers, 5 days
Travel and preparation 1 visit 360 360
Transport of participants and trainers 44 people 28 1232
(return journey)
Accommodation for participants and 44 people x 5 days 20 4400
trainers
Catering for participants and 44 people x 5 days 14 3080
educators
Logistics Fixed rate 600 600
Teaching material 40 people 7 280
Expenses of trainers 6 people 200 1,200
Cost of report one-off amount 140 140
Public relations and media one-off amount 200 200
SUBTOTAL 11,492
2. Training of mediators
Rwanda 120 young people x 3 days x 15 10,800
2 sessions
Burundi 140 young people x 3 days x 15 12,600
2 sessions
North Kivu 80 young people x 3 days x 15 7,200
2 sessions
South Kivu 80 young people x 3 days x 15 7,200
2 sessions
SUBTOTAL 37,800
3. Project management and administration
Coordination and follow-up of 3 visits 870 2,610
mediators on the ground
Cost of supervision by trainers 40 people x 3 visits 60 7,200
Project equipment one-off amount 3,200 3,200
Operations
• Communication 10 months 170 1,700
• Internet 10 months 40 400
• Office supplies and consumables 10 months 40 400
• Office rent
• Transport and fuel 10 months 120 1,200
• Staff remuneration 10 months10 months x 1 1080 10,800
- project director person
- project assistants 10 months x 3 people 600 6,000
- secretary 10 months x 1 person 150 4,500
- caretaker 10 months 100 1,000
• Staff medical cover (80% of 80 800
expenses) 10 months
492 4,920
SUBTOTAL 44,730

TOTAL 92,822
Emergencies (5%) 4,641
YEAR TOTAL 97,463

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Year 2: July 2006 – September 2007 (15 months)

Description Number of units Unit cost in € Total cost in

€
1. International Camp
Expenses for renting the site 1 site 2,500 2,500
Expenses for setting up the site 1 site 8,000 8,000
Management of the camp
- Travel expenses for the 420 people 17 7,140
mediators
- Travel expenses for the 60 people 17 1,020
trainers and local guests
- Equipment for registration of one-off amount one-off amount 3,700
participants
- Equipment for workshops one-off amount one-off amount 4,850
- Catering for participants and 520 people x 5 days 13 33,800
adult educators
- Accommodation in tents 200 tents 80 16,000
- Medical care one-off amount one-off amount 2,800
- Other equipment one-off amount one-off amount 4,100
SUBTOTAL 83,910
2. Peace caravans
Catering 480 people x 3 days 13 1,453
Logistic expenses 480 15 7,200
Educational material one-off amount one-off amount 12,000
SUBTOTAL 20,653
3. Project management
Coordination and follow-up of 5 visits 870 4,350
mediators' work
Expenses for supervision by the 40 people x 3 visits 60 12,000
trainers
Operations
- Communication 15 months 170 2,550
- Internet 15 months 40 600
- Office supplies and 15 months 40 600
consumables
- Office rent 15 months 120 1800
- Transport and fuel 15 months 1,080 16,200
- Staff remuneration
Director 1 person x 15 months 600 9,000
Assistants 3 people x 15 months 150 6,750
Secretary 1 person x 15 months 100 1,500
Caretaker 1 person x 15 months 80 1,200
Medical cover for staff 6 people x 15 months 492 7,380
SUBTOTAL 63,930
TOTAL 168,493
Emergencies (5%) 8,425
GENERAL TOTAL 2nd YEAR 176,918
TOTAL COST OF PROJECT 274,381

Drawn up in Bujumbura, 12th-June-2005

The Permanent Secretariat of the PSGL

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APPENDIX

1. Map of the sub-region

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2. The host country and the site of the rally

The host country: Burundi
In terms of its experiences of conflict and of peace, Burundi can serve as an example for Africa
and the rest of the world from several points of view: as an example of a humanitarian
disaster, of inter-ethnic massacres, of civil war, of agreements for peace and reconciliation and
of electoral processes.

Since independence, Burundi has known periods of unrest, marked by crises of confidence and
massacres between its people groups, in 1969 and 1972, then in the crisis of 1993 and the
civil war that resulted from it.

Social life has been devastated, with the disappearance of entire families (around 200,000
people killed), thousands of women widowed, several thousands of abandoned children,
several thousands of people displaced to the neighbouring countries and a large majority of
the population displaced within the country, countless cases of rape, and much more.

Analysing the causes of this crisis of confidence and of these massacres can help people to
understand and to avoid similar situations, both in Burundi itself and in neighbouring countries.
Showing great courage, Burundese society has faced up to the consequences of the crisis,
managing the acute problems arising from the broken relationships between the different
components of its population, and concluding agreements to promote peace, reconciliation,
power sharing, national unity and economic rehabilitation.

Burundese men, women and children have risen up to rebuild their country, to fight for the
restoration of peace and for fundamental change in their society. Many positive initiatives have
been taken at the level of grass-roots communities and youth organisations. Where human
rights are concerned, work has been done not only on the practical aspects of reconstruction
but also in terms of initiatives to overcome social tension, to bring about social change and to
restore confidence.

Obviously, faced with this potential source of conflict, the Burundi Scouting Association, like all
other players, has been a little shaken, but has not given up on its ideal. Far from weakening
the association, this crisis has on the contrary demonstrated the association’s strength and its
ability to bring together young people of different ethnic groups despite the unrest within the
Burundese population. This is demonstrated by several initiatives organised for the benefit of
displaced Burundese people (since 1993), refugees from Rwanda (in 1995), Congo (2004), and
reconstruction camps organised in various places.

The constantly growing membership, drawn from all backgrounds (educational and non-
educational) also shows the enthusiasm of young people to belong to an organisation whose
moral integrity no longer has to be proved and where many and varied activities allow young
people to develop in a rounded way in all fields. From 10,000 before the crisis of 1993, the
membership has grown to more than 15,000 in 2005

In this way, young people have found that the scout movement provides a favourable
framework for emancipation, for making friends and realising their dreams. In short, in
scouting young people find the things that meet their needs and aspirations.

Description and location of the host site

Gitega is Burundi's second city, after the capital Bujumbura. It was founded in 1912 during
German colonisation as a new site for the capital of Burundi, which until then had been
Bujumbura. In this way, the colonisers hoped to facilitate the administration of the territory by
situating the capital in the centre of the country.

The city of Gitega, surrounded by mountains, is thus situated in the middle of the country,
102km to the East of Bujumbura, in the central plains area. It therefore benefits from a
temperate tropical climate, with average annual temperatures varying between 17° and 20°C.

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Project Amahoro