{"id":16570,"date":"2017-01-01T13:06:47","date_gmt":"2017-01-01T13:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spiderbit.rw\/neveragain\/?p=16570"},"modified":"2017-01-01T13:06:47","modified_gmt":"2017-01-01T13:06:47","slug":"societal-healing-transforming-community-members-into-peace-agents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neveragainrwanda.org\/societal-healing-transforming-community-members-into-peace-agents\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Societal healing\u2019 transforming community members into peace agents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\u2018Societal healing\u2019 transforming community members into peace agents<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When some Genocide perpetrators committed themselves to asking for forgiveness, they didn\u2019t know that the gesture would give them a more positive feeling towards humanity. When some survivors committed to unity they didn\u2019t know they would get a sense of belonging from their traumatic wounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI took the time to reflect on my past, and I have realized that there\u2019s hope that I will heal from my wounds,\u201d said a male, former genocide perpetrator from Karongi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI came to realize that when people are not united, they lack respect for each other and this is one of the sources of conflict and a hindrance towards development,\u201d said a female Genocide survivor from Abasangirangendo, Gishamvu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These two quotes are from participants that were speaking, telling stories and learning from each other\u2019s experiences through the many conversations that take place during the \u2018Space for Peace\u2019 dialogues. Spaces for Peace dialogues are \u2018safe spaces\u2019 created for youth and community members to discuss their sensitive traumatic past and ignite the process of healing which would eventually contribute to social healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In these \u2018Safe spaces\u2019 individuals such as these quoted, feel comforted, valued and safe to open up and share personal and sensitive stories and are facilitated by a local peace-building organization called Never Again Rwanda (NAR), through psychosocial support. The dialogues are part of NAR\u2019s \u2018Societal Healing and participatory goverance for peace Program\u2019 of which since its implementation in January 2015 a total of 15 groups have been established in 13 districts that include Gasabo, Nyarugenge, Huye, Gisagara, Muhanga, Gicumbi, Musanze, Rulindo, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Karongi, Ngoma and Nyagatare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The experiences of NAR from its different research findings indicate that revealing during these dialogues is healing. NAR healing experts that have been interviewed believe that the untold and unlocked wounds can contribute to future violence and long-term traumatic illnesses for generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n