MUHANGA — The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), has launched a peace education project in the southern province, as part of efforts to foster unity and reconciliation.

The project launched last week targets about 172,200 residents in the districts of Muhanga and Kamonyi.

It aims at mainly empowering residents to identify and mitigate the effects of conflict including trauma among youths in and out of school.

Speaking at the project launch at Chez Lando Hotel in Muhanga District, the ADRA country director, Joseph Sebahire said he was optimistic about the success of the project owing to ADRA’s past involvement in development, education and health projects in Rwanda for the last 30 years.

"Though this is the very first project on peace education, education is one of our main focus areas. Consequently we have built over 30 schools in these two districts to promote learning,” Sebahire said.

The 2-year project commenced  in November 2008 with funding from DANIDA.

At the ceremony, the Muhanga vice Mayor for Social affairs, Alice Uwibambazi noted that the project will be of tremendous help to residents, and she promised the district authority’s  support towards its implementation.

"We are the beneficiaries of this project so let us unite and work hard to ensure its successful implementation,” Uwibambazi urged.

During the project phase the targeted youth groups, especially students, will be identified by teachers and district officials in order to help them in the healing process.

The project coordinator, Maxwell Ndemo said that the project work will be effected through community-based youth groups for the purposes of boosting reconciliation drives through increased sensitisation campaigns.

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