CEDAC Field visit to Psychosocial Assistance to Victims of armed Conflict Project in Muramvya

On Thursday, the 20^th September 2012, a field visit was conducted by members of staff from CEDAC´s Coordination Office based in Bujumbura. The objective of the visit was to assess the progress of the Psychosocial Assistance to Victims of Armed Conflict Programme being implemented in Muramvya. They visited Rutegama commune and observed two peer support workers interacting with survivors. The first survivor met was a disabled woman who had been shot in the leg and later had it amputated. She told of her difficulties in handling different tasks, and that she is encountering social problems such as stigmatization. The task of the peer support worker is to help her to feel better by raising her self-esteem and to find solutions for the day to day challenges in her life. It is important to mention that this survivor is a member of the Twa minority who constitute only 0.9% of Burundi´s population. The Twa are frequently marginalized, and so this survivor´s problems are twofold with her disability. It is in these cases that the peer support worker is a vital lifeline.

 Another peer support worker introduced the CEDAC visitors to an ex-combatant who was facing mental problems and had been abusing drugs. He was also aggressive to the community. The peer support worker was showing him different ways of feeling better about what had happened in the past and to help him adopt a positive attitude. Moreover, the peer support worker persuaded the ex-combatant to develop constructive goals for his life. The role of the peer support worker here is to provide strategies to help the ex-combatant channel potentially harmful feelings into positive actions.

        The progress of the project is remarkable; survivors enjoy social visits and services provided by peer support workers. In addition, the community is developing faith in CEDAC’s workers, which was demonstrated by the fact that someone handed a grenade, left over from the conflict, into the community animator. By inspiring trust and providing support to the communities, CEDAC´s project in Muramvya is helping to make it peaceful and is continuing to encourage people to disarm.

Joel Nibigira presents a peer support worker to a survivor of the conflict. He explains CEDACs project in  Muramvya and the role of peer support workers.

Cedac´s fruitful partnership with UNDP

As part of the United Nations Development Programme´s (UNDP) framework for the reintegration and reconciliation of ex combatants in Burundi, CEDAC was invited to participate in a two day technical workshop in Bujumbura on the 18-19^th September to present its progress in its projects in the communes of Rugombo and Murwi in the Cibitoke province. The workshop also served to function as a space for the UNDP´s local partners to identify problems and receive technical assistance from the UNDP representatives.

 CEDAC has received funding from the UNDP since July 2012 to carry out local level projects in the Cibitoke province to create 560  short term jobs (reserving 201 positions for females) and other subsequent income opportunities  for both  ex combatants and members of  receiving communities. Having the objective of not only providing individuals with an income but to also foster positive and collaborative relations between existing community members and returnees, this project and similar initiatives proposed by Burundian NGOs are the lynchpin to paving the way towards reconciliation and enduring peace. It is precisely this approach that in the two day workshop the UNDP highlighted the important role of Burundian NGOs in the post conflict state. Moreover, equal importance was given to the necessity to engage local authorities in order to ensure the sustainability and success of community based projects.

In CEDAC´s progress report, it was shown that in six weeks 8km of irrigation canals have been rebuilt  in the Rugombo commune in addition to 6.5km of road constructed between Mibanda and Gitohera in the Murwi commune. These community projects bring people together, provide economic opportunities and have a positive impact on the communes’ development, thus improving the inhabitants´ quality of life. CEDAC has been able to accomplish its targets due to the unwavering support and assistance of the local authorities.

CEDAC would like to express its thanks to the UNDP and partner organisations for the opportunity to share its work with them.

Eric Niragira, founder and executive director of CEDAC, presents a progress report for the Cibitoke province project in a UNDP technical workshop in Bujumbura 18-19th September, 2012.