There is need to further engage the youth in unity and reconciliation efforts in the country to ensure sustainable and peaceful co-existence. This was said during a national peace building and reconciliation workshop organised by International Alert, a peace building organisation. The Tuesday workshop brought together development partners and members of the civil society to explore how reconciliation process can be improved in communities. The meeting focused on the role of religion and commemoration in peace building, and the importance of psychosocial healing in post-conflict societies. Different partners recommended that the youth should be the main focus during countrywide dialogues on unity and reconciliation, as they are the future leaders. Pastor Antoine Rutayisire, of the Anglican Church, said religion plays a key role in peace and reconciliation building through different ways. Rutayisire added that Rwanda’s journey to reconciliation is obviously amazing but we still have a lot more to do.Betty Mutesi, the International Alert country coordinator, said reconciliation is an ongoing process. “We should know that reconciliation is a process, but a process which can succeed through comprehensive approaches via dialogue and psycho-social healing. ‘‘Having seen how open people are during these dialogues, I have no doubt that we have made tremendous gains as far as reconciliation is concerned,” Mutesi said. Sarah Bawaya, the Unity and National Identity Regional Coordinator at the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, commended partners for fostering unity and reconciliation among communities but called for improved collaboration. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
