The Interpeace project, titled “Reinforcing community capacity for social cohesion and reconciliation through Societal Trauma Healing in Rwanda,” operates in Musanze, Nyabihu, Ngoma, Nyagatare, and Nyamagabe. Its mission is to address the long-term psychosocial impact of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, specifically targeting high levels of trauma, anxiety, and depression that undermine social trust and reconciliation.
Key interventions include creating “healing spaces” where community members can address trauma and its intergenerational transmission. The project also focuses on teen mothers, researching factors that affect their integration into healing spaces and providing necessary legal support. Despite challenges such as funding delays and budget reductions, the project has successfully enhanced participants’ self-esteem and confidence. Future goals include advocating for graduates to form cooperatives to build financial independence and securing alternative funding to expand these healing initiatives to additional districts.