Rwanda

Rwanda is a small country in East Africa surrounded by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, and Uganda. Though Rwanda is often associated with the genocide that took place there in 1994, those who have been to Rwanda since have observed a country that seeks peace and reconciliation with itself and its neighbours. Now Rwanda is considered to be relatively one of the safest countries in East Africa.

Shalom Educating for Peace is a small organization registered under the law of South Africa and operates out of Rwanda. It was founded by two Rwandan and South African peace students. The objective of Shalom is to walk alongside individuals, organizations and communities, reminding all of us of our shared humanity and the necessity of a nonviolent way of life. Working primarily in the Great Lakes region, we meet together with communities to draw out the stories and conversations that would lead to more deeply understanding and accepting one another, and equip people with the skills to interact in a way that brings about reconciliation.

Our vision is to empower communities to:

• Prevent violent conflict
• Non-violently resolve conflict
• Build a culture of non-violence
• Move towards reconciliation

This vision is implemented through our three principal activities: peace education, research and non-violent action.