LESSON
Lesson Learned: Promoting democratic and human rights values among Rwandan youth
The project empowered a number of Rwandan young people who became aware of past abuse and were able to seek assistance. This was significant in the Rwandan context where silence about past abuses is widespread. As a result, the project’s ability to encourage young people to “break the silence” was a notable achievement. However, subsequently it is important that the organization be prepared to direct young people to a range of NGOs that can provide tailored support, including legal and socio-psychological.
Project Partner
Never Again Rwanda
Project Description
The overall objective of the project was to empower Rwandan youth to play an active role in the democratic process and good governance of their country, and to understand and stand up for human rights to further nation-building processes. The project targeted 7,000 youth members of Never Again Rwanda (NAR) clubs and associations to make them “ambassadors of change”. The targeted youth were to “reach out” to other young people and the general public through “knowledge and skills sharing and advocacy initiatives and drives”. The key activities of the project were to: train youth on human rights and advocacy skills; hold debates and theatre shows on human rights and democracy; and support the trained youth to play a role in democratic processes and good governance. The project was generally well designed in that it took into account the sensitive socio-political context of Rwanda under its post-genocide government.
Report
Evaluation Date
February 2014
Theme
Country