WESTERN PROVINCE

NYAMASHEKE — At least 20 students, four teachers and eight matrons drawn from different schools in Kanjongo sector, Nyamasheke district, on Monday ended a two-day training in trauma handling.

The trainees were drawn from Ecole Secondaire Tyazo, Tyazo Vocational Training School, Institute John Wesley Kibogora and St Martin Hanika. The event organized by AERG, an association of student Genocide survivors in Kanjongo, in collaboration with the district, also attracted two security personnel.

It was aimed at addressing trauma cases among Genocide survivor students, which are common in schools during the mourning week.

The participants were also trained on how to effectively give counselling services to affected students in their respective schools.

"In case students get traumatized in your respective schools in this coming genocide commemoration week, its good to keep the traumatized persons in isolated places and to avoid talking to them in order to help them get quick recovery," Kamanzi advised the trainees.

Participants were also urged on the ways of preventing trauma cases during the commemoration period. It was noted that leaders needed to play a big role to reduce cases of trauma.

During the training, held at Tyazo Vocational Training School, participants were advised to desist from ethnic divisions that plunged the country to the 1994 Genocide.

Jean Claude Ndindayino, the Executive Secretary of Kanjongo sector, challenged students to use the unity and reconciliation clubs in their respective schools as centres of unity.

Speaking on behalf of students, Joseph Muhire of Ecole Secondaire Tyazo said; "we are very happy to have got such training on how to deal with people who get traumatized. I am very optimistic that the knowledge we have gained from this training will help us to handle trauma cases during this coming Genocide commemoration period, and even beyond."

The trainees are expected extend similar training to others in the region.

Ends