0. PROJECT MOTIVATION
Inspired by the story of Bucimi caritas (widow & mother of three) from ruhororo zone ,Mabayi commune , Cibitoke province , Republic of Burundi and Mugeni (single mother of two children) from Bweyeye sector,Rusizi District , western province in the Republic of Rwanda .
Before the political crisis of Burundi of 2015, and the covid pandemic crisis that brought the Ruhoro border post to close for more than 7 years, these two women were jointly involved in commercial activities of tomatoes, which were collected from the side of Burundi to Rwanda. Bucumi Caritas was collecting tomatoes in Burundi and would sent them to Mugeni Monique to sell them in Rwanda and send tomatoes money back to Bucumi caritas in Ruhoro Burundi .Despite that these two women have similar situations (female house hold heads) they survived from this small commerce of tomatoes for long time and had sustained needs of their families .
When borders closed based firstly on the Burundi political Crisis of 2015 and the covid 19 in 2019, the two women decided to get involved in smuggling commerce activities. Being tired of the long time that border closing took, Bucumi and Mugeni agreed on phone to identify a guy that would help all along in to smuggling activities of the tomatoes just for the survival of their children.
The identified guy who was doing the smuggling job of tomatoes for Bucumi and Mugeni was arrested by the police station of Ruhoro from the side of Burundi , which made Bucumi denounced to police . While being interviewed by the police, Bucumi Caritas from Burundi was asked by the OPJ if she would keep doing the smuggling activities of tomatoes with Rwandans once she is released by the police. Bucumi responded firmly that she will keep the smuggling business until she finds an alternative to feed her children. She also added in her response to the OPJ, she stressed that the problem is not her Rwandan friend Mugeni who was selling tomatoes in Rwanda and sending back money to Burundi. She emphasized saying that her friend in Rwanda cares much about his children far better that his brother OPJ in Burundi who arrested her because of smuggling activities.
It is from this background that we thought about creating the ISHI PAMOJA KWA AMANI Coalition for the Great lakes Region and proposing to have a citizen consensus or charter on living together in peace and harmony of people of the three countries, Burundi, DRC and Rwanda. A community based solution for rampant political tensions that made brothers and sisters to living together, but restoring trust among bordering communities of the three countries, as well as fight divisionism and hate speeches among people of same destiny.
1. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
OVERALL GOAL OF THE PROJECT
The project overall goal is to alternatively contribute to the peace and stability of the great lakes region through the living together in peace and harmony of the citizen of the three countries (Burundi, Rwanda and DRC)
- Consult citizen at their category levels to propose feasible solutions for peaceful coexistence among citizen of the sub region.
- Dialoguing with all community members ( traditional chiefs , faith leaders , opinion leaders, women ,youth and men) of the three countries to find a common ground on living together in peace and harmony.
- Dialoguing with local leaders and decision makers on possible solutions of the living together in peace and harmony.
- Designing the citizen charter on the living together in peace and harmony of the citizen of the three countries.
2. PROJECT STRATEGY
The Grassroots Peer Dialogue Approach (GPDA) will benchmark the identification process of issues trespassing the living together in peace and harmony in the Great Lakes region, community organizations members of the coalition, will undertake cross boarder face to face meeting with various members of the community including, traditional chiefs where it applied, opinion leaders, faith based leaders, women and youth representatives, local leaders and the private sector at community level.
3. PROJECT BENEFICIARIES
Beneficiaries are generally all citizen of the Great Lakes Region at all levels , but mostly peopleliving at bordering areas of the three countries (Burundi, DRC and Rwanda).
4. PROJECT ACHIEVEMENT/DELIVERABLES
Enactment of the inter community and interstate citizen charter/consensus on the living together in peace and harmony for Burundi , Rwanda and the DRC.
GREAT LAKES CITIZEN CONSENSUS / CHARTER ON THE LIVING TOGETHER IN PEACE AND HARMONY.