When Raphael Nzabiyumva was just a boy, his family got caught up in the frenzy of the Rwandan genocide and destroyed a neighbors' property. Today, the young man is helping to forge reconciliation with his neighbors and the community at large.
Such a dramatic turn of events did not happen all at once. It began in 2007, when Raphael was less than one year from finishing university studies. It was then the gacaca courts administering traditional justice required his parents to pay reparations for their previous crime. They were forced to sell a coffee plantation — the family's sole source of income — and could no longer afford Raphael's tuition. They watched helplessly as the neighbors sold the land to a third party that let it go to waste.
With a diploma nearly in hand, Raphael decided to sacrifice his education rather than risk another conflict with his neighbors. He dropped out and became a primary school teacher in his native Rutsiro District. Eventually, he saved enough money to repurchase his parent's land.
For many, that would be enough. Raphael, however, had higher aspirations. He and his neighbors' daughter, Placidie Mukarugema, joined hands to start a youth group called Ibyiringiro (Hope). Their goal? Mobilizing young people to engage in peacebuilding activities that address post-genocide disputes while promoting unity and reconciliation.
With training and financial support from a USAID/IREX program (Y4C) [7], Ibyiringiro has become the preeminent youth group addressing these important concerns. In addition, the group has helped stem poverty and build community bonds by putting together an initiative patterned after the national "one family, one cow" project.
"IREX offered me training in leadership, conflict management, and project design and management skills and since then I have never looked back," Raphael explained.
These successes have propelled him even further. Raphael is not only the president of Ibyiringiro, but also an active member of several other community organizations. He is a National Youth Council Representative, Secretary for the Bumba Cell Council, an elected Rwanda Patriotic Front Party Youth Representative, and President of the National Scouts Club for the Rutsiro District. The project design and proposal writing skills he developed through Y4C have helped Raphael contract with local business cooperatives for extra income. He also expects to receive $5,000 for a small carpentry workshop to employ youth members from his community. This workshop will serve as a melting pot for youth from different backgrounds to address peacebuilding and community development issues.
Raphael's exemplary entrepreneurial and conflict management skills have earned him the respect of local communities and authorities.
"It was only after I got IREX support that I became visible in the community and among my peers and started getting one opportunity after another," he said.
Eventually, Raphael hopes to build a national peacebuilding NGO with program activities that address skill gaps and poverty issues. Having experienced an important reconciliation first-hand has got him off on the right path.