In the years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi — which turned neighbors against neighbors, friends against friends, and in which moderate Hutus were also killed — Rwandan and international organizations started various peacebuilding initiatives.
And, Francine Muhawenimana explains, “Even the children, they have conflict between them,” which can lead to arguments, theft and even physical altercations in schools. The organization she works for, MCC partner Transformational Leadership Center (TLC), saw an opportunity to rewrite this narrative. Seeking to instill a culture of peace and a lifelong love of reading in children, TLC opened its first peace library in 2005. Today, the organization runs six libraries across Rwanda. In addition to activities like these, children partake in peace debates. They are presented with a topic, and with a stance to take on it. They research the topic using library resources, and then practice public speaking skills when they state their case to their peers. Mennonite Central Committee: Relief, development and peace in the name of Christ https://mcc.org/our-stories/novel-approach-peacebuilding
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