Burundi

Finding the courage to work for peace

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David Niyonzima on the role his faith plays in his work

Listen to David Niyonzima, founder and director of the Trauma Healing and Reconconiliation Services (THARS) in Burundi, on how his faith influences his peace work.  David leads workshops on trauma healing and providing community spaces for peaceful dialogue and reconciliation.

This audio is an excerpt from a longer interview with David Niyonzima, conducted by Friends Liaison Lucy Duncan and Friends Relations Fellow, Madeline Schaefer.  As well as being the director of THARS, David is also a Quaker pastor and member of Burundi Yearly Meeting.

Elders as Peacemakers in Burundi

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David Niyonzima on the traditional role of elders as peacemakers

Listen to David Niyonzima, founder and director of the Trauma Healing and Reconconiliation Services (THARS) in Burundi, on the traditional role of elders as community peacemakers.  David's work involves leading workshops on trauma healing and providing community spaces for peaceful dialogue and reconciliation.

QUNO's 2011 work in Peacebuilding

QUNO Peacebuilding-2011

QUNO Representative Camilla Campisi with members of the Kibimba Peace Committee

QUNO Representative Camilla Campisi with members of the Kibimba Peace Committee in Burundi (credit: QUNO)

Peacebuilding policy and practice continues to evolve at the UN, and while support for national ownership and building local capacity are frequently highlighted, UN peacebuilding often takes a top down, rather than a bottom up, approach. QUNO continued to engage with the UN work in Burundi, contributing to discussions on peacebuilding and transitional justice. We worked with Chinese academics to explore the UN’s approach to peacebuilding and peacekeeping, including jointly hosting delegation visits to the African Great Lakes region and to New York.

Seeds of economic growth, security lie beyond agriculture for many in Africa

Claudette selling items in Muramvya, Burundi

Claudette is part of an income-generating program with Biraturaba, an AFSC partner that works with returnees, internally displaced people, and ex-combatants in Burundi.

Dependence on the land has long been a source of conflict in Burundi. Its soil can’t keep up with the rate of population growth—among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa—and the courts are crowded with cases of conflicting claims to property.

At the root of the problem is the fact that many Burundians’ livelihoods are tied to agriculture while the land is increasingly infertile, says Triphonie Habonimana, AFSC program officer. Food shortages, combined with high unemployment rates, spur conflict.

Regional workshop focuses on generating income from nonagricultural work

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The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in Burundi organized a regional conference on good practices for promoting income-generating activities (IGAs) as part of socioeconomic reintegration. The conference was organized within the framework of AFSC’s dialogue and exchange program, which brings together key groups to discuss peace issues and shares the resulting recommendations within Burundi and internationally.

Report on Lessons of Truth and Reconcilation Commissions

BUJUMBURA, Burundi (July 10, 2012) - A report on an international conference on the theme: "Transitional Justice Mechanisms: Lessons learned from Truth and Reconciliation Commissions," will be released on Thursday, July 12, 2012, at 9:00am at Royal Palace Hotel in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Mécanismes de Justice Transitionnelle Rapport

Télécharger la version française La justice transitionnelle: les leçons tirées des commissions de la Vérité et la Réconciliation. Ce rapport de 33 pages traite de l'impact et de la Commision de la Vérité et

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Transitional Justice Mechanisms Report

Download the English version of Transitional Justice Mechanisms: Lessons Learned from Truth and Reconciliation Commissions.  This 29 page report covers the impact of the Truth and Reconciliation Commision in Burundi.

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Transitional Justice Mechanism: Lessons learned from Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

Lire cette introduction en français.

This report gathers observations and recommendations from the 60 participants of the international conference, Transitional Justice Mechanisms: Lessons Learned from Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, held at the Safari Gate Hotel, Bujumbura, Burundi from August 24 to August 26, 2011. The information in this report was developed during the conference by all the participants assembled.

AFSC in Burundi Brochure

AFSC’s efforts in Burundi focus on supporting Burundians as peacemakers.

Who we are

AFSC is a Quaker organization devoted to service, development, and peace programs throughout the world. Our work is based on the belief in the worth of every person, and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice. Learn more

Where we work

AFSC has office around the world. To see a complete list see the Where We Work page.

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