EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE — The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), has launched a new project that will help Nyagatare women understand their role in conflict prevention.

The new project called Women in Post Conflict Situations Project (WIPS) was officially launched on Thursday in Rukomo sector-Nyagatare district.

The project is also expected to rally women behind matters of conflict resolution, peace building and reconciliation processes, according to Patrick Mphaka the WIPS regional manager. The programme is built around a radio programme targeting women affected by conflict in the Great Lakes region.

Mphaka noted that the overwhelming majority of women surveyed in Rwanda indicated that radio is considered to be the most effective form of communication. He said they were optimistic their programmes would reach a big number of listeners.

Launching the project, Mphaka said domestic and sexual violence can be contained. Mphaka stated, "Women have a strong desire to be involved in radio programmes that will allow them to have a voice.”

Due to common stories of trauma that many women in this region share, the project intends to provide an outlet for women to tell their stories of survival in order to bring hope to other traumatized women across the region.

In order to share these stories of survival, and to share the experiences of women who have overcome trauma, 16 listener committees have been  established to identify and collect stories which can be used in the productions, as well as contribute programme ideas and suggestions in five sectors in Nyagatare where the project operates.

The five sectors in Nyagatare district where the project operates include; Rukomo, Gatunda, Mukama, Tabagwe and Karama.

Mphaka said women in the project will be further assisted by over 300 community groups who will be both major beneficiaries of the programme and contributors.

According to Mphaka the project operates in three countries including Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The target areas of Rwanda are Nyagatare, Nyamasheke and Karongi districts.

The regional manager said that the project broadcast its programmes on Radio Rwanda every Sunday evening between 7 and 8 pm, and re-aired on Wednesdays at 1:30pm. 

Addressing residents who turned up for the function, Anselm Rurangwa, Nyagatare vice Mayor in charge of economic development urged residents to work hard and eradicate poverty, saying poverty is the main source of conflicts in homes.

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