HROC RWANDA

On July 22^nd, 23^rd, 24^th and 29^th 2019, HROC offered the training “Sustainable Implementation of Healing and Preventing Violence in Daily School Activities” for teachers in neighboring schools, in collaboration with Kimonyi Sector and JICA Volunteer.

Mujawamariya Christine (Sector Education Officer of Kimonyi Sector), Kwizera Jeremie (HROC Facilitator) and Risa Sonoda (JICA Volunteer in Musanze District) facilitated the training, and 88 teachers from GS Kitabura, GS Birira, CS Kivumu and Keystone School participated. They learned how they can avoid any kind of physical or verbal violence in their schools, how they can peacefully mediate children’s conflicts, and how they can apply those techniques in daily lessons with learners-centred approach.

The teachers in charge of class management received follow-up materials at the end of the training, which are to be observed by HROC once in a semester. This system enables the teachers to be continuously conscious of non-violent management and mediation at schools, and enhance the measurement of effectiveness of HPV as HROC activity.

Punishment only results in negative feedback which is “respect as fears”

Participant from GS Birira

The training was very impressive because we learned not only concepts but also how we can use and apply them technically in daily school activities

Participant from Keystone School

Peaceful education will be possible if we all can implement what we have learnt through this workshop

Participant from GS Kitabura

“The importance of ‘why'” was very important. I will develop good relationships with student through good listening

Participant from CS Kivumu

I will guide learners not by forcing them or by violence

Participant from GS Kitabura

On June 26^th 2019, HROC celebrated International Day of the African Child with neighboring schools in Kimonyi Sector.

175 students from GS Kitabura, GS Birira, CS Kivumu and Keystone joined together at HROC Conference Hall to watch a Disney animation film “Coco.”

The children made friends in other schools, enjoyed the film and learned various lessons through the story. Sector Education Officer of Kimonyi, Christine Mujawamariya facilitated children’s discussion after the film, and children from each school shared what they learned.

Some stated they saw how the 12-year-boy tried hard and never gave up attaining his dream to be a musician in spite of hardships. Some said that it is important to love and respect families. Some also mentioned the boy succeeded to meet his grand father despite his death.

It was an honor of HROC to provide this opportunity for children in our community to enjoy and learn, and to let them know our Children’s Peace Library for their further development of literacy and creativity.

This project was arranged by Risa Sonoda, a JICA volunteer working with HROC for more than a year, and supported by KOICA volunteers with theire project “Cinema Paradiso.”

In July, 2018, eleven international participants from South Sudan, USA, Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda have accomplished three week training of HROC. They deepened their understandings on trauma and its recovery processes and received certification as Healing Companion completing practice facilitation at communities.

According to their testimonies below, it seems that HROC programs are highly demanded also in their own home communities. We hope our participants will meet those needs using their knowledge and skills learnt from HROC International Training.

Testimonies of participants:

“I myself needed Hroc to heal. I know I am traumatized due to my story. I am going back home in Nigeria to help a group of widows that I am responsible of. I am also going to voulunteer muself and join a Hroc group of facilitators that is already in Nigeria”. Thank you for having me here, I really enjoyed the training, and the country, especially the Musanze climate and healty food.

Deborah, from Nigeria

“I really appreciated what Hroc is doing, I have learned a lot, and got new skills and experiences from this training. I got to understand people’s wounds the most. I work with different groups of people especially refugees, and other people that work closely with refugees such as police,,,. So we are going to organize some Hroc activities, because Hroc is already there, but there were no facilitators. Thank you for letting us coming to this one”

Rama, from USA

“I am so much thankful for I was able to attend this training. It’s a blessing to me and to my community. I got my ways out of trauma. I work with a peace organization back to Kenya, and I am taking new skills, listening to people accompanying them through healing process. I will also joing a group of facilitator in Kakamega(Kenya)”.

Joseph, from Kenya

“I am sure this program of Hroc will be very useful to my community which has know long term consequences of trauma, and still living in conflict. We will go to IDP camps to organize Hroc workshops there. Thank you so much for the training.”

Joseph, from South Sudan