Reconciliation of Refugees Returning from Exile.

IPB FEBRUARY 2023 NARRATIVE REPORT

1.        Introduction

Two (2) Healing and Rebuilding Our Community basic workshops were conducted on February 13^th to 15^th and from 20^th to 22^nd, 2023 respectively.  40 adult participants including two men and thirty eight women and 9 kids who came with their mothers. They were mainly former returnees from exile and street sellers who lost their jobs as a result of new governmental regulations^[1] or lack of capital.

 2. The purpose of the workshops         

Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities (HROC) workshops give an opportunity and platform for people to learn about trauma and start their healing journey. Participants are led both backward and forward: Backward to trace back the reason behind the symptoms of trauma that they might be living with and forward to equip them with practical trauma management and preventive measures. At the completion of the two workshops, many of the participants expressed grieving for the loss of their parents and education opportunities as detailed in the following sections. 

3. Some key stories of success 

• Joselyne

Two months before the completion of secondary school, the political crisis of 2015 erupted, and unrest between protestors and the police happened near our school. Many of my classmates fled to Tanzania but I sheltered myself in the upcountry. Without parents capable to support me, I failed to regain school. My father passed away long before. That’s how I missed a diploma while I was almost finishing my studies. I had no other choice than to be married. I have now three kids and my financial situation does not even allow me to present myself at school in proper clothes.

• Alexine

I lost my parents when I was still young. They were both killed in 1993 because of their ethnic affiliation. Then, I left home for Bujumbura. I got married to a man who was murdered 12 years ago. I’ve never known who killed him and why. He left me with three kids. I got heartbroken due to many things that happened to me.  This basic workshop was an opportunity to learn more about my psychological situation and ways of recovering for the trauma caused by my past.

• Jeanine

After the death of my father, my mother took me out of school. She brought me to the city of Bujumbura. She then got married to another man who mistreated me. Due to the abuses, I decided to flee to Tanzania. Failing to sustain myself there, I came back home and find that my mother had passed away. My childhood life was really difficult. In addition, I was grieved by the death of my son. He got in a car accident and immediately passed away. Though many years have flown by now, I still vividly remember the scene.

• Charlotte

I lost both of my parents when I was still young. Thus, I did not pursue formal education even though I really wanted to. This one has really saddened me.

5. Conclusion 

War destroys the socio-fabric of societies. And, in the context of Burundi, the death of both or one of the parents has severe consequences on the survival of children afterward. Mainly the death of fathers affects the development of children, especially in relation to pursuing formal education.. After dropping out, they become vulnerable to other harms such as forced marriage, rape, extreme poverty, and so on. Hence, there is a need for healing from past losses. As many of participants failed to share their whole history due to their strong emotions, a follow up is planned in a period of one month to accompany them. They are welcomed to visit on of the facilitator at the office whenever they will feel able to share their testimony. 

This is reported by ICISHATSE E. Rodrigue

Coordinator and facilitator’s lead

^[1] The government has recently banned the selling of fried maize on the street for instance. 

2022 International Day of Peace Celebration

Giving Tuesday is 2 days away. GlobalGiving has $ 1, 2 Million to give away. It is programmed on November 29 between 00.000.00 ET to 23:59:59. This 24-hour campaign is a big fundraising that I invite you to participate in and tell your friends and family members about our campaign in favor of IPB

1. Introduction

On November 15^th, 2022, IPB-HROC celebrated the international Day of Peace. 55 people were invited including our partners, journalists and other local NGOs’ representatives. Inspired by the United Nations ‘theme of the year, different speakers contextualized and explored structural and cultural obstacles to sustain peace. 

1. Background of the event 

Every September 21^st, under the leadership of the United Nations, the world celebrates the international Day of Peace under a specific theme. The theme of this year is “End racism, Build peace”. Racism is really a threat to peace and every society and individual should be aware in order to turn the tides of such dangerous discriminatory basis. However, the situation of racism is different from one society to another. 

A part from that, racism can be grouped in the conceptualization of structural and cultural violence. If racism, in the general sense is not present in Burundi, we do have discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, clan, etc. Therefore, there is still a need to reflect on the structural and cultural violence that hinder the development of our communities. That’s exactly what our celebrations was all about! 

1. Major reflections 

Three main speeches were delivered during the celebrations: One from the coordinator of HROC, Reverend Nahimana Elie, another one from the founder and director of Kariwabo, Ms. Josephine Ndimira and one of our beneficiaries. Our beneficiary testified about the benefits she gained from IPB-HROC’s basic workshop and being part of a SHG. The coordinator and HROC and Ms. Josephine Ndimira shared the experience of both local NGOs related to structural and cultural violence that hinder the development of especially poor women and teen mothers. 

In concrete terms, poor women and teen mothers often are not able to register their children in the civil administration. In Burundi, a patriarchal society, fathers have the responsibility of registering their babies in two weeks’ time following birth. If the fathers are not willing to do so (mainly because they don’t want to assume their responsibilities as fathers) or they are not physically present; for instance they are imprisoned or on a business trip, the mothers cannot register them, except on their names only. Culturally, it is the most shameful thing to register a child on a unknown father. It can cause trauma or prevent the child from getting some opportunities in the future. So, many mothers do not simply want that option. 

This is an issue that the government even tried to tackle through a presidential decree ordering the registration of all children and married couple.

Unfortunately, the government initiative could not succeed fully due to different reasons that need to be resolve with other approaches rather than law. 

In order to respond to that gap, IPB-HROC in collaboration with Kariwabo appealed to all institutions involved such as the ministry of solidarity and local leadership. IPB-HROC particularly is planning a project of supporting in the process of registering those left behind children. 

1. Conclusion 

Joining the whole world in the celebration of the international day of peace was an amazing opportunity for IPB- HROC. It was a nice moment to evaluate our activities, reflect on serious and immerging issues to tackle for the good of our beneficiaries. Lastly, having journalists and other local NGOs’ representatives with us help to strengthen our voice that needs to be heard by the government and other stakeholders.     

• Group photo for participants (DOCX)
• participants photos (DOCX)
• Elie presenting IPB's achievement i matter peace (DOCX)
• Participants expressing their joy (DOCX)
• Ndimira Josephine a partener representing Kariwabo (DOCX)