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Survivor Corps Launches Program in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi
June 5, 2008: The Washington-based Survivor Corps has launched an ambitious program in Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi to help survivors of conflict to work together, improve their lives, launch campaigns for social justice, and eradicate the root causes of conflict.
Survivor Corps grew out of Landmine Survivor Network (LSN), and the new Africa program draws from the lessons of ten years of working with survivors of landmines. LSN was a co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, as a leader in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
The Africa program began last month with a 3-week preparatory mission to Africa aimed at meeting with survivors and hearing directly from them what support they need. The team comprised Michael Moore from Survivor Corps, and Mendi Njonjo from the Advocacy Project (AP), which is helping the program with advocacy and information.
The program has selected three countries that have suffered greatly from genocide and war, but have an active civil society. In Uganda, a brutal rebellion by the Lords Resistance Army has displaced over a million people. In Rwanda, much of the population remain deeply traumatized by the 1994 genocide. Burundi has been in the throes of a civil war since 1993.
The team met with over 20 survivors' groups in the three countries. Most are small community-based initiatives, like the Association of Landmine Survivors and Amputes in Rwanda which was founded by Wilson Rubanzana (a landmine survivor) and has 50 members. Others have an international reputation, like the Ligue Iteka, Burundi’s foremost human rights group which is leading efforts to establish a Truth Commission.
Michael Moore described the trip as “exhausting, exhilarating and uplifting.” He agreed that some of the stories had been painful to hear, but that he and Ms. Njonjo had been struck throughout by the toughness and determination of survivors.
“We have a lot to learn from Africa,” he said. “There is also a lot more we can contribute. Survivors hold the key to building peace in these countries. It is time for the world to invest seriously in them.”
Survivor Corps and The Advocacy Project are inviting applications for a series of trainings in peer-to-peer support, information and advocacy, and human rights. The trainings will help all partners to develop web pages and build support for their campaigns.
Several groups have already joined the new program, including the Gulu Disabled Persons Union in northern Uganda, which seeks to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are included in reconstruction plans.
The team also began the process of recruiting country coordinators. Pierre Claver, a conflict specialist, has agreed to represent the project in Burundi. Ms. Njonjo, a specialist in information and conflict resolution in Africa, will work for the program from Kampala for the next two years and open an office for the Advocacy Project in Africa.