Rwanda / Grass roots
Radio Benevolencija is currently creating groups of local change agents, or "active bystanders," who meet regularly in groups spread all over the regions and settlements of Rwanda . Training and debate events are held on a monthly basis at central locations. At the gatherings, issues such as trauma healing, rendering justice, recognition and issues that can potentially incite violence are discussed. Potential remedies are debated. Plays, sketches and music create a festive atmosphere. Then the groups return to their villages and cities, many of them acting as lay trauma support persons in their homes. All aim to create a socially active network of "positive bystanders."
In times of peace, these individuals become specialists for trauma support in their community, while also being active in helping former antagonists get to know each other and listen to each other's point of view.
In crises, these individuals know how to detect the negative influences that play upon their fears and resist scapegoatism. They apply a sense of perspective and ask simple questions to identify concrete problems, and they know which course of action to take and when to take it, in order to best counteract destructive developments without endangering themselves.
Radio Benevolencija aims to organize an event each year in the capital of Kigali that will bring these positive bystanders together. This event will include games, contests and musical shows, and participants will discuss and celebrate their experiences and educational successes. In the future, La Benevolencia will do more to promote the integration of its activities into the school curriculums afforded in its countries of operation.
Rwanda / Justice & youth campaigns
Justice forms a special focus of the Great Lakes Reconciliation Radio project in Rwanda . Throughout this country, more than 10,000 village tribunals operated by more than 100,000 lay judges are currently in full operation.
Rwanda / Factual & debate
Kuki ("Why?") : This is a radio magazine that focuses on direct factual information about incidences of mass violence and genocide in the world, and how individuals involved in that violence went through a psychological development similar to that which occurred in Rwanda.