Healing Trauma and Building Trust and Tolerance in Rwanda

This report summarises important findings from baseline and end line studies of the fouryear Societal Healing and Participatory Governance for Sustainable Peace in Rwanda programme, funded by the Government of Sweden and implemented by Interpeace and Never Again Rwanda. The report explores the question of how peacebuilding approaches can address deep wounds from the past, reduce trauma and psychological distress, and build resilience, forgiveness and social tolerance in a post-genocide setting like Rwanda. By doing so, it is possible to not only address deep wounds and trauma that are the basis for marginalisation, exclusion, grievances and violent tendencies, but also improve levels of trust and the ability of individuals to non-violently resolve grievances. This can have the parallel impact of enabling individuals to more actively participate in society thus improving governance and social cohesion. It is a practical demonstration of a peacebuilding programme that achieved both important peacebuilding outcomes as well as mental health and development outcomes.