Help 450 Rwandan Prisoners to Become Peacebuilders

Introduction

A three-day training on the Alternative to Violence Program (AVP) was successfully conducted from May 15 to 17,2025, in Rutunga Sector,Gasabo District, within the City of Kigali. The training targeted individuals who had recently reintegrated into the community after incarceration. Its objective was to equip participants with nonviolent conflict resolution techniques and to support their smooth reintegration into society.

Objectives of the Training

• To introduce and reinforce AVP principles and techniques among ex-prisoners.
• To promote reconciliation, healing, and peaceful coexistence in communities.
• To encourage commitment to nonviolence and personal transformation.
• To foster accountability through forgiveness and community reintegration.

Training Activities

The training covered several key AVP themes,

including:

• Affirmation and Respect: Encouraging self-worth and empathy toward others.
• Communication Skills: Active listening, expressing feelings nonviolently.
• Conflict Resolution: Identifying triggers, deescalation strategies.
• Cooperation and Teamwork: Group activities that promoted collaboration.
• Transforming Power: Harnessing the inner capacity to positively respond to  conflict.

Interactive sessions, role plays, group discussions, and personal storytelling were used to deepen engagement and understanding.

Participation and Engagement

The participants were actively involved and showed deep commitment throughout the training. Many shared personal stories of transformation and expressed a genuine desire to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their communities. The atmosphere was one of openness, learning, and healing.

Outcomes and Commitments

At the conclusion of the training, participants made several collective and personal commitments:

• To live peacefully and responsibly in their communities
• To apply AVP techniques in their daily interactions and conflicts.
• To teach others, including family members and peers, the values and methods learned.
• To seek forgiveness from those they harmed and to engage in acts of reconciliation.

These commitments reflect a strong will to turn away from violence and embrace positive change.

Conclusion

The AVP training held in Rutunga was a resounding success. participants left the workshop empowered, hopeful, and ready to be agents of peace in their communities. The training not only provided practical tools for conflict resolution but also reignited a sense of dignity and purpose among the participants.

Continued follow-up and support are recommended to reinforce the training outcomes and to assist participants in sustaining their transformation journey.