TRANSCEND Africa Report 2009-2010
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 21 Feb 2011
Rais Reza Boneza - TRANSCEND Media Service
African’s Peaceful means
Presented by:
Prof. Michael Nbonekube, Institut Supérieur de Gestion et Management (ISGM)/Université du CEPROMEC. Burundi
Dir. Menga Rodolphe, Mituelle Jeune Active (MJA). Uvira /DRCongo
Father Joseph Bbuye, Kasanga Parish Catholic Church. Kampala/Uganda
Brother Robert Martineau, Project Uplift. Kampala/Uganda
Madam Aline Asali: Baraza Burundi/South Kivu
Ms. Soraya Aziza, Transcend Africa / East Africa
Kuliloshi Bertin: People for Peace and the Defence of Human Rights(PPDR) Madam Anifa Amunga: Baraza Oriental Province
Raïs Neza Boneza: Transcend Africa /Kimpa Vita
1. Overview by Soraya Aziz
From earlier in 2006 throughout 2009 of the TRANSCEND Africa Network’s vision aims to: Sustain mechanism that increases local non-violent conflict transformation and peace-building Capacities. Specifically to develop an African network involved in peace building and conflict resolution by Peaceful Means (Johan Galtung). Segundo, to create a document or index of the different African Traditional Methods of Conflict transformation for the TRANSCEND Research institute. Tersio, to support a cross-cultural initiative for peace among sub-Saharan bodies at the grass-root level preliminary in Zimbabwe, Angola, Ivory Coast, R.D. Congo, Central Africa Republic, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Burundi. And finally, to promote the introduction of Peace Study particularly with a focus on the TRANSCEND method in collaboration with different educational or research institutions (e.g.: Universite du CEPROMEC, Facultes des Hautes Politiques Africaines in Burundi or the newly locally funded Pan African University of Peace and Conflict resolution).
The Follow up undertaken later developed these following projects:
a. BARAZA
The Baraza have played a major role in developing specific programs for communities by then strengthening the building of more democratic initiatives for population who have had no say in the management of their society. Several palaver gatherings that gives access to dialogue among communities have been created to improve and develop understanding between nations in the region or Africa; to carry out comprehensive peace and non-violence initiatives (Peace Empowerment Process = People Empowerment Process).
a.1 . The Peace Empowerment Process/People empowerment process (Baraza)
During the year 2008, new challenge has befallen into the network project increasing the need to tackle uncertainties and provide an environment of peace into our community. More displaced and refugees has come into our communities. The urgent need to find creative programs to promote cohabitation and tolerance among the people it our prerequisites. The Transcend Africa Uganda: Solidarity with Children of Kasanga in Uganda (Vision 2006 -2010) is a success which comes with a lot of challenge to meet with years to come.
Previous achievements
720 Children follow classes. Their education is supported by the fund provided through Transcend Africa by a joint collaboration with Transcend America (Marilyn Langlois/Carolyna Marks). The support comprises the scholastic material for children and educators. The Art program provide skill in paintings singing and theater as a mean of creatively combat mobbing, stereotype among the kids coming from different backgrounds (Both refugees and local). We have been able to present courses with the regular state curriculum plus courses including peace activities inspired by Lion’s Den of Carolyna marks. Parents and adults are involved in the whole process through our UPLIFT PROJECT, providing services in integrating new arriving refugees and displaced by providing basic skills such as tailoring courses through a small grants provided to specially women. For Adult desiring to further their education, some volunteer teachers give courses in English, geography, Mathematics for a period of one and half years. These courses will accompany them to the national text exam which will give them a chance to join the regular education system. Two classrooms were constructed to overcome the congestion that made difficult to follow every students. A computer room with five computers is available for student and parents.
a.2. Present achievements 2009 – 2010 (What New?) By Madam Aline Asali
– Burundi Baraza House (Burundi)
The Burundi Baraza house provides a place of meeting between different groups, association, youth and women organization. Through transcend Africa, The women project most active is now on full sufficient with a program of small grant provided to mothers (Kobota elengi). Today the project is self-sufficient.
Contact: Aline Asali (aline_asali@yahoo.co.uk)
– Baraza Uvira (DR Congo)
Mituelle Jeunesse Active opened its own center where youth meet learn computer skills, English courses, Art skills (Dance, Theater, Photography). We have opened a resources center with books on peace building and conflict transformations. Many of the activities in the center comprises community relation between the giant mining Canadian company Banro and the local communities who are often moved from their natural habitat for the purpose of gold, and Coltan mining. Contact: Mrs. Soraya Aziz and Mazombo Menga Rodolphe. The Baraza has extended its workshop program to Bukavu, the Capital of South- Kivu region. Supplement funds are needed for 2011- 2012.
– New Baraza (D.R.Congo/Oriental region):
Forum des Jeune Congolais pour la Paix et le Droit de L’homme (FJCPD) by Madam Anifa Amunga
The Congolese Youth Forum for Peace and Human Right is a platform bringing gathering the youth of Kisangani working for peace and non-violence values.
Initiated in May 7, 2009, the forum has the ambitious aims to change the norms and violent practices among Congolese community to promote a culture of peace. For this purpose, we are working with a range of actions to contribute to the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts and the promotion of human rights.
It was established as a TRANSCEND Africa project under the Congolese Legislative decree and provision No. 004/2010 of Mai 2010 applied to non-profit and public institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The forum is situated has on the 16th Avenue No. 50 in the Municipality Tshopo beside the Primary School Ndolenge in the martyr town of Kisangani. However palavers are organized at different sites according to the issues of the debates presented.
The forum (Baraza) mandate is:
-
- Promote a culture of peace;
- Struggle against the unawareness about the rights and duties of citizens;
- Combat arbitrary, illegalities, abuse and misuse of power by government and defend the victims of these acts;
- commitment to the values of justice, peace, freedom and democracy;
- Promoting methods of prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts;
- Promoting initiatives for endogenous development and the movement of solidarity among the communities.
To achieve these objectives, the forum uses the following tools for its action:
-
- The training (T4T) of its members to creatively analyze social facts and methods of non-violence and peaceful transformation of conflicts between communities (Palaver, TRANSCEND method; Peace Empowerment Process/People Empowerment Process)
- Awareness and public education by organizing panel discussions, symposia, seminars;
- The publication reports of the outcome on investigations, studies and analysis of the society (Both local and regionally);
- Advocacy and lobbying.
From an operational standpoint, forum is headed by a TRANSCEND Africa Coordinator, Mr. Rais Neza Boneza. The local and regional Co-coordinator Miss Anifa Amunga manages the different activities of the Baraza platform. The Executive Secretary, Mr. Helal Kibangula manages daily administrative work as various committees orbit around him in specific areas and he is also in charge of ensuring the well use of the didactic material at our disposal.
The following committees are the strong bone shaping the Baraza work in the region; namely:
-
- Youth and Peace Commission, Mr. Barumbi Amir;
- Women and Peace Commission, Ms. Rukiya Akuabila;
- Society and Peace Commission, Mr. Losua Bogeto Mauritius;
- Children and Peace Commission, Mrs. Natalie Magali
- Financial Commission, Ms. Mary Tango and Mrs. ogenda Clementine;
- Training and Peace Commission, Ms. Bijoux Lomanga.
Background
In the year 2000 from 5 to 10 June; the Rwanda and Uganda Army fought each other into the town of Kisangani (DRCONGO). The violence caused more than thousands of deaths and at least three thousand wounded civilians. Later this event will be called the “Six Day War”. Kisangani experienced fighting between the two occupation forces (Uganda and Rwandan military); as earlier as in august 1999.
The city of Kisangani with its 1910 km 2 is located in the north-east arc of the Congo River, 1700 km from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Capital of the Eastern province, it is divided into six urban communes (Makiso, Lubunga, Kabondo Mangobo, Tshopo Kisangani) and a rural community (Lubuya Bera).
Kisangani has a population now estimated around 700 000 inhabitants, the majority consisting of the youth. It is a city of great challenges, a city of great expectations. This province has a great potential in natural resources and a great cultural diversity. Nearly half of the country’s ethnic groups and tribes live in this region (240 of the 450 ethnical groups of the Congo).
However, after successive wars have occurred into the city, several of its facilities are found in a state of disarray. Former armed groups transformed into political parties continue control the media which threatened the peaceful cohabitation among communities.
The lack of positive activism among the civil society is the major factor that creates violence and takes away the healing that is so much needed in the region. Political parties are fuelling the unrest and tension; consequently, the young people are tempted to form negative gangs and groups allied to one of the different political parties.
This phenomenon arises with much more scope in the municipality of Mangobo, the Tshopo, Kabondo where we find, in each neighborhood, groups or gangs with intimidating names such as “The butcher”; “American youth”, “Arab League” in the town of Mangobo, ” The Red Army” in the town of Tshopo and “Council of swordsmen” in the town of Kabondo (To give some examples).
For the above named reason this project targets most specifically these area in Kisangani to bring about the healing.
Thus, it is therefore was essential and in its mandate that the TRANSCEND Africa –Baraza project extend urgently to the Martyr town of Kisangani. Necessary funds was directed to specifically support the Baraza—Platform in Kisangani.
The communities have understood that they need to commit themselves on focusing on ways of peace instead of violence which have been characterized in recent years. The establishment of the frameworks for cooperation and solidarity called “Baraza” is an appropriate strategy to anchor the culture of peace among the communities in Kisangani.
Activity Description
To achieve the objectives and expected outcomes of this Baraza platform conducted the following activities:
- Organization of the 3 training days;
- Held the 3-day exchange of experience of peace in each town selected.
Organization of training days
Training days on healing and African’s peaceful’ s mean to resolve conflicts was held during three days, it benefited 20 people from different area , organizations and political institutions (fifteen organizations were represented). With three day training the twenty core groups had a mission to reach over 300 hundred youth and members of local communities by developing another three days Baraza in each area as follow:
- Day One: Training on the Culture of Peace and healing
- Day Two: Identification of forms of violence in the society, institutions, families, and the youth
- Day Three: Healing, reconciliation, non-violence activism (People Empowerment Process/Peace Empowerment Process, TRANSCEND method).
Follow up meetings after June or July 2010 Baraza
After days of fifteen days of training, a day of peace was held in the major municipality. Twenty four delegates from different civil society organization were selected to compose a Baraza who will act as mediators, and preserve a climate of peace, prevent conflict, educate about non-violence and peace in and among communities.
This project has contributed to capacity building for youth and other community member in the city and rural areas. In conclusion through the support of TRANSCEND Africa, we have:
- Allowed the youth people from three targeted communities to identify latent and potential igniter of conflicts, and open in their communities palaver mechanism to heal and resolve peacefully the conflict;
- Established a “Baraza” in each of major municipality of Kisangani, “Baraza” can provide a framework for dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
The result of the following project:
- More than three hundred people from fifteen organizations and different work of life were sensitized and trained on the culture of peace and ways to resolve conflicts peacefully;
- Three “Baraza” in the town alone; and more in formation in the rural area.
2. Kimpa Vita Press and Publishers by Raïs Neza Boneza
Kimpa Vita Press & Publishers is a small for non-profit and indigenous press and book Publishing Company project, established in 2008 after a meeting with young concerned artists and writers in Kampala, Uganda. Kimpa Vita Press and Publishers is established in response to the absence or impossibility to find independent scholarly publishers with a special focus on the needy, and a victim of our world torments (War, Refugees, homeless, youth, women etc…) or dedicated artist to humanity. The Kimpa Vita Press and Publishers, main vision is to promote peace, dignity and solidarity.
Knowing that it is difficult or almost impossible for upcoming writers in conflict zones or living under precarious situations such poverty to bring out their voice to be heard; Kimpa Vita Press and Publishers is committed to contribute and promote the work of the voiceless and unheard folk around the world. Kimpa Vita Press and Publishers is vowed to publish work that reflect social justice, dignity, and healing in Humanities, Social sciences, Poetry, fiction, children’s books and quality Art books.
Kimpa Vita Press and Publisher aims to publish relevant, beautiful and affordable books for the local and international market. We plan to focus on intellectual cooperation and the equal sharing of its achievement. We hope to work toward the following principle: Unity, self-determination, Responsibility, Co-operation, Creativity, Family, Purpose and Faith (Kwanza pillars = Harvest in Kiswahili). All the revenue from the material that will be published by Kimpa Vita Press & Publishers will benefit TRANSCEND Africa projects in Africa.
Process
The selected title and author are reviewed by Kimpa Vita Press board of editors. Kimpa Vita Press after the agreement with the author or Artist forwards the hand work to qualified paid editors. Kimpa Vita Press forwards the contract (Artist agrees to relinquish the copyright to Kimpa Vita for the period 6months renewable.
After receiving the signed contract, the publisher makes all arrangement for the design and printing. All agreements between the author and the publisher are made primary through the internet. The author will have to take care of the book review.
Kimpa Vita Press & Publishers agrees to pay Author 10 percent for each books sold. A numbers of books will be allocated to the author, and perhaps some funds for the book signing according to the budget. The book will be allocated a barcode and ISBN number, registered and archived at the Norwegian National library. Major online retailers such Amazon will have listed the book. Some bookshops In Norway will have the book. The publisher will notice the press about the new publication.
Kimpa Vita Press & Publishers owns the copyright for all electronic versions that may be used on. Author relinquishes “all rights” to both electronic and print versions of her (his) work as commissioned and paid for by Kimpa Vita & Publishers for six months.
Kimpa Vita today
We are working now on three projects to be out next year 2011. A book on The Congo exploitation of Coltan (Novel); a work on the oil conflict in the Niger Delta (Novel) and a poetry collection for the Uganda poetry by women poetry Award that we are sponsoring.
MAKARAMBA
MAKARAMBA is word used in sub-Saharan Africa particularly in Zambia and D.R.Congo to lift awareness in time of uncertainty. In Zambia, the word can mean also “come and see”, and in the Congo various groups, the word is used to raise awareness when a serious issue arise within the community. For example “Mokili Makaramba” was widely used by displaced people in the oriental provinces region the civil war in 1999 only to mean that the “the heaven are falling upon our head”. Makaramba is not a negative word but a term to be used for awareness, for prevention reminding us when there is something wrong in the community. It is a term that allows community members to pose the question and discuss on issues to find a solution.
MAKARAMBA art initiative, it is joint initiative between young people from different background Uganda, Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Ethiopia establish in January 2008 in Kampala. It is a non-profit initiative aim to support the youth, boys and girls through artistic performance, display and exhibition using filmmaking, painting, sculpture, contemporary dance, drama and photography for tolerance, acceptance and peace in the society.
Makaramba Dance Company
Directed by Maurice Yeka; the dance company comprised of two dancers (Maurice & Emily Simon) and two poets: Rais Neza Boneza and Jean Baptiste Mparara. Performances by this company were fascinating and avant-garde mélanges of dance and theater. The artist continues to explore and develop a unique style which is inspired by their region and people’s painful history, their people’s day to day life and the emotions of what it’s like to be away from your homeland. Everyone will discover (not necessarily for the first time) Makaramba dance has never been interested in the often sterile taxonomy of the so-called erudite, quite like Prometheus, we prefers to give the fire instead of just talking about it. Umberto ECO’s sentence which says that “the beauty of the cosmos does not only derive from unity in variety, but also from variety in unity” applies to Makaramba dance None of the Makaramba chef d’oeuvre is ever the repetition of the other, and yet all works are characterized by one thread: INNOCENCE – a virtue that should return to us if at all we are to aspire to redemption. For Makaramba dance redemption is reconciliation between self and environment.
PPDR by Kululoshi Bertin
People for Peace and the Defense of human Rights (PPDR) is a Non-Governmental Organization under the umbrella of TRANSCENDS Africa and supported by Kimpa Vita Press & Publishers. PPDR works for the promotion of peace and human rights in the great lakes region in particular and the world in general. PPDR is an independent movement comprising victims of human rights violations who are mobilized in order to overcome the state of victimization.
PPDR is a democratic movement and will hold its elections once in two years in order to elect its representatives. The current coordinator of PPDR is Mr. Keffa Minda. PPDR have nine commissions’ bodies namely:
– Judiciary commission
– Women and Peace commission,
– Youth and Culture commission,
– Social and Economic commission,
– Political commission,
– Ethical and Moral commission.
In solidarity with other human rights organizations, PPDR denounces military and armed activities and discouraged people to join armed and military forces in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Through public conferences, campaigns, denunciations, debates; PPDR helps people who have been forced to live in fear and enmity to rediscover harmony and the benefit of solidarity without being influenced by political leaders who seek only for their own interests.
During the year 2009, several people from Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia joined PPDR to celebrate the International Peace on the 21st September 2009 whereby they discovered that it is possible for us common to live in harmony despite the political conflicts between our nations.
PPDR conduct investigations into human rights violations especially the rights of people who are given less attention such as refugees, IDPs, illegal immigrants, workers in the informal sector, street children and other marginalized group in our communities. The guiding principle in our researches is the motivation to respond to the question of “why human rights violations are common and who violate people’s rights”. One of the tentative solutions is to share information and denouncing all types of human rights violations via several articles published on each individual or collective case.
We train people in human rights activism and civic education; we organize different awareness campaigns about human rights and organize conferences on non-violent mechanism in order to empower people on how to claim for their rights.
It is clearly known that we cannot claim stability and development if human rights are not respected. We highly recognize the support from different organizations in terms of ideas and materials in this program mainly Amnesty International Africa Regional Office, Youth for Human Rights International, the United Nations High Commission on human rights under the committee of minority groups, Uganda Human Rights Commission, and Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Refugee Law Project and the African Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Victims of Torture and the Collective des Organisations de Jeunes Solidaires du Congo Kinshasa.
Education
TRANSCEND Africa have provided computer facility and training; the English programs for those who cannot write and speak English through the “Peace empowerment Process/People Empowerment Process” and the UPLIFT Project.
Many among our members are from countries where English is not spoken such as D R Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan. Children have access to these programs.
In collaboration with Umoja (Unity in Kiswahili) International secondary School, we have put in place a scholarships program for refugees’ students from Congo to complete their studies especially those who were in level 5 and six so that they can graduate and have access higher institutions.
Emergency case and Advocacy
PPDR intervenes on behalf of individuals at risk (e.g. torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment through advocacy, and different kind of interventions to the concerned bodies or institutions.
For example, according to the Ugandan law once a person is arrested, he or she can apply for the court bail or the police bond. For many refugees considered as homeless, paperless and stateless; it is difficult to get a bail or bond unless escorted by a Uganda national. PPDR accompanies many refugees, asylum seekers, or street children foe example; to police and court to stands for them as surety. In conclusion, PPDR is the TRANSCEND Africa wing which deal with human right issues with a special focus on victims of armed conflicts in the Great-lakes region of Africa.
UPLIFT Project
The project provide free secondary education for student in refugee camp, slums and outskirt of Kampala. The project admits solely on the basis of need. Working on the fundamental basis that “all people deserve the right to an education”. Free classes are provided for students ranging from all background regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, or class.
“ We give the chance to those who will be without a chance of an education…our aim is to hope to those with no hope in a practical way…here education is a future of opportunity…an investment..A better life or the possibility to eat, to have an adequate house, being dignified women or men…real human beings.” Rais N. Boneza. East Africans 2008
Uplift project operates on free and voluntary basis. Plans are in place to provide the teacher with a financial support monthly basis for motivation.
5. Impact
TRANSCEND Africa has inspired and contributed positively in building peaces around the Great-Lakes Region of Africa. As a result of TRANSCEND Africa initiatives and funded projects, the tensions between various communities, groups throughout the region are been non-violently and peacefully resolve. Many groups have regain smile and hope from Kisangani, Goma, Bunia, Uvira, Bukavu, in the Congo to Uganda, Burundi or Rwanda; we are moving forward.
With the mediation within the Barazas supported by other cultural institutions and interest groups led to cessation of hostilities between the two parties: the Twa and their local neighbor. Since then, the tree of dialogue between members and non-members of Baraza is growing bringing more awareness in the Society. Place such Burundi are totally independent from TRANSCEND Africa sponsorships because they have manage to bring peace, and who say, see opportunity, creativity. Much still to be done specially in the Congo but the same achievement will be reached by 2012. It took two years for the Burundi project; therefore we see TRANSCEND Africa reaching it potential peace and non-violent by fulfillment by 2015.
It has greatly attracted peace building experts from the academia and practitioners leading to the creation of peace centers, institutes, organizations throughout the region. E.g, Fundation Chirezi, CECOR, Pan African Peace University (Uvira/Congo), Peace and conflict Transformation studies(North and south Kivu) and more others…using the TRANSCEND Method as tool but with a special focus on ATMs (African Traditional Methods of Conflict Transformations).
Challenges
Financing the projects is our major challenge due to the nature and scope of the work. If it was not for the solidarity of our main sponsor and donor Marilyn Langlois (TRANSCEND North- America) and the support of Carolina Marks. We may not reach such impact and achievement.
We hope to improve our source of fund through the newly upcoming Kimpa Vita Press & Publishers (KVPP). KVPP with creative and research productions will be able in a couple years to support and fund earlier or new implemented peace and healing project in Africa. It was even more challenging when we had to extend the Baraza projects to the oriental province of the Congo; we are recording a success as they are taking charge of themselves and even replacing the broken or dysfunctional state administration. This success confirm why it was necessary to divert a large part of the Kimpa Vita resources’ to the oriental region, it was a one-time chance which is a completed project.
Maintaining these projects while working in high –risk countries, it is a tricky challenge. For this reason it is more crucial to monitor all the time the progress specifically in these time or period of crisis and political tensions. TRANSCEND Africa/Kimpa Vita Project will need further or additional support/fund through 2011-2012. More volunteers are needed for its expansion, development and tackling or correcting shortfalls that we might identifies in piloted seasons. More teaching and learning about peace and healing are more vital right now as we are entering in the most crucial and challenging period in the Great-Lakes region of Africa.
The funds 15000 USD for this project 2009-2010 was provided graciously and entirely by Marilyn Langlois (TRANSCEND America)
For the Transcend Africa team
Thanks!
Soraya Aziza, TRANSCEND Africa/East-Africa
And approved by Raïs Neza Boneza, Convener
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 21 Feb 2011.
Anticopyright: Editorials and articles originated on TMS may be freely reprinted, disseminated, translated and used as background material, provided an acknowledgement and link to the source, TMS: TRANSCEND Africa Report 2009-2010, is included. Thank you.
If you enjoyed this article, please donate to TMS to join the growing list of TMS Supporters.
This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.