A family is the foundation of any society. In Rwanda, the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi shattered family structures and disrupted family life and cohesion.

After the genocide, many widows and widowers had to raise their surviving children as single parents, while many orphaned children were forced to assume the roles of their lost parents at a young age to care for their younger siblings. This situation had tremendous consequences on the mental well-being and socioeconomic development of families.

The psychological suffering inherited from traumatic experiences affects their abilities as parents and spouses. Several studies have demonstrated that the legacies of genocide can persist across generations through the intergenerational transmission of trauma.

Three decades after the genocide, Rwandan families continue to grapple with its trauma and aftermath, compounded by the intergenerational transmission of genocide-related legacies, which has become a significant societal challenge.

This is further exacerbated by daily life stressors as Rwanda strives for socioeconomic development, aiming to become a middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income country by 2050.

For Rwanda to achieve sustainable peace and development, it must prioritize healthy families, as they are the foundation of society. Many families face challenges that undermine cohesion and development.

Recently, there has been a significant increase in family conflicts, leading to deaths, divorce, and children adopting risky behaviors such as drug abuse, suicide, and school dropout.

According to the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) Citizen Scorecard Report 2023, family conflict is the leading challenge to family cohesion (22.3%), followed by extramarital affairs (17.2%), psychological violence (16.1%), and economic violence (14.4%). Additional issues include physical violence (8.8%) and juvenile delinquency (8.4%). These problems negatively impact the mental well-being of family members, further hindering their participation in economic activities and ultimately leading to poor livelihoods.

The 2023 RGB Citizen Scorecard Report identifies alcohol abuse as the primary cause of family dysfunction (85.4%), followed by poor communication between family members (81.3%) and inadequate parenting (58.9%).

Studies conducted by national and international actors, such as Interpeace, a peacebuilding organization, corroborate the findings of the Citizen Scorecard. A baseline study by Interpeace in 2022, as part of its societal healing program in Rwanda, revealed that poor communication, genocide-related trauma, and the intergenerational transmission of historical legacies, combined with inadequate parenting skills, are the primary drivers of family dysfunction. Notably, 98% of study respondents recommended enhancing couples' capacity for intrafamily dialogue to improve communication, while 96% suggested strengthening their conflict management skills.

The government has made commendable efforts to remedy this situation. Among them, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) and other security organs play a pivotal role through community policing and collaboration with local leaders to detect and prevent family conflicts at early stages. In addition to formal family dispute resolution, community-based initiatives such as Umugoroba w’Umuryango and Inshuti z’Umuryango (IZU) have been established to assist dysfunctional families, helping them resolve conflicts amicably before they escalate.

However, there is still a need for innovative solutions and approaches to building family resilience. One potential approach is the Multifamily Healing Spaces, a group-based psychosocial intervention being implemented by local organizations such as Haguruka, Prison Fellowship Rwanda, and Dignity in Detention, with the support of Interpeace.

The Multifamily Healing Spaces approach was designed to help families confront historical traumas, improve communication, and resolve conflicts through healing dialogues. It also addresses the intergenerational transmission of genocide and historical legacies that affect family cohesion. Multifamily Healing Spaces blends homegrown solutions with international best practices tailored to the Rwandan context.

This approach functions in a group setting, where groups of parents and their children are formed within communities and facilitated by well-trained individuals from the same communities, known as Community Dialogue Facilitators. Over a period of 24 weeks, participants engage in healing dialogues that enhance their communication and family relationships.

This scientific approach was recently tested and proven highly effective in resolving intrafamily conflicts, enhancing communication and problem-solving skills among family members, and strengthening family cohesion and resilience. The findings also reveal that the intervention had additional positive impacts beyond the expected results. Families who participated in the study significantly improved their livelihoods by learning to better manage family resources and work together toward shared goals. Moreover, the intervention positively influenced the school performance of children, who received more time and support from their parents, as reported by many of the families who participated in the program.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. A combination of multiple approaches could yield better results.

Firstly, it is necessary to strengthen existing initiatives such as Umugoroba w’Umuryango and Inshuti z’Umuryango to ensure their smooth and effective functioning.

Secondly, the Multifamily Healing Spaces approach should be integrated into existing structures, namely Umugoroba w’Umuryango and Inshuti z’Umuryango. It has the comparative advantage of equipping couples, both as spouses and parents, with social and emotional management skills, enabling them to address existing conflicts, strengthen bonds, and develop strategies for handling future conflicts and challenges. Trained Community Dialogue Facilitators continue to utilize the skills and knowledge they have acquired to assist local leaders in addressing the many challenges faced by their communities. They are often invited by local leaders to help resolve cases of family conflict and lead mediation processes.

Thirdly, the Multifamily Healing Spaces approach should be incorporated into university curricula, particularly for students studying clinical psychology, social work, and gender studies, to ensure wider dissemination among academia.

I strongly believe that building healthier and more resilient families is key to building a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Rwanda.

The Author is the Country Representative of Interpeace in Rwanda.