Peer support for change in the world

Many do not realize the change that can lead people to think when they solve their problems by referring to their previous experiences. Indeed, this is what I have seen from a training seminar for peer educators of CEDAC on the theme "Peace begins at home’

This training funded by the Gender Unit of the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi to CEDAC had as main methodological tool, the approach of Peer Support, invented by Jerry White, founder of Survivor Corps. Based on his experience, Jerry White has revealed the five steps that should help the survivor to overcome her traumatic experience. The method of Peer Support also shows behavior that must show a pair facing a survivor. The knowledge gained on this tool from my training by an expert from Survivor Corps in Kigali in January 2009 gave me an opportunity to realize my abilities to perform the change. I once had the opportunity to present this method of Survivor Corps, at the seminar which was conducted from September 10 to 11, 2009. This training was dedicated to the leaders of CEDAC coming from six provinces in the North West of Burundi and had as objective the acquisition of knowledge that should enable them to consolidate the peace by taking as a model their respective homes. In presenting the approach of Peer Support, all participants were greeted warmly and they said “It was the single best approach to consolidate the social fabric of Burundi”. The sharing of experiences has been more interesting for participants. The sponser, after seeing the interest of the training has decided to expand training to other provinces. His goal was that peer educators can actually have the knowledge which could help them to contribute to the change of Burundi, in short, peace building and development. I am deeply motivated by this method shows a great impact on the future of Burundi and needs to be supported.

Eric Niragira

Dushigikirane Project

Designed by Care International in partnership with Survivor Corps, WFP and IRRI, the objective’s project is the empowerment of women’s program for development, Gender Based Violence program and Micro-credit program.
The target is the women ex-combatants from four communes of Bujumbura rural province who had been victims of civil war and very touched by war in Burundi.
All those women are organized in women ex-combatants network in CEDAC, so that we would work together and put the efforts together for implementing that project.
Last week, we were visiting the Kanyosha commune for giving more information about the project to the different commune representatives and the local community leaders. Let mention that most of them were women. It has been amazing for me when Mr Claver was presenting the program of Survivor Corps and the program of Gender Based Violence; I noticed that all women who were taking part in the meeting were interested by the program. One of the women ex-combatants said that:” Women had been used by rebels to carry munitions from the town to the mountains surrounding the town”. She also stressed that many young girls had been victims of gender based violence during combats, so that the program will be welcome in Bujumbura rural Province for implementation.

Welcome to my blog

Dear readers,

welcome to my blog which help you to have more information about Burundian people,ex-combatants in burundi and their projects especially in CEDAC organisation....

I have created the blog in order to share ideas with others around the world and invite them to join us in the initiative of rebuilding in Burundi. Please, if you are interested in our work, we would like to hear from you... so please leave comments!

I'll put on the blog the news from CEDAC and our partners, information on our campaigns, and photos and videos of activities and members. I'll put also reflections on events in Burundi and the process of peace building.

Please make yourself at home. Ce blog est un espace bilingue, donc vous pouvez meme laisser les commentaires en francais.