Empowering Young People in Burundi: a Series of Field Training

In close collaboration with the Burundian Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the first phase of this project was held from 11 to 16 February 2013, with the training of ten national trainers, members of the Youth Network in Action for Peace, Reconciliation and Development (REJA), which includes more than 150 youth clubs located throughout Burundi.<br /><br />Throughout the month of March, these ten resource persons are will form, in turn, young people identified in all municipalities of 4 of the 5 common provinces of Burundi, either because they are members of a youth organization or a women organization, or because they represent a religious congregation or are local elected representatives or delegates of a local government.<br /> <br />In the province of Bujumbura Rural (11 municipalities), Gitega (11 municipalities), Muramvya (5 municipalities) and Mwaro (6 municipalities), 163 young people will be trained to work as "apostles of peace" in their respective communities which will therefore benefit from lessons taught in Kirundi on topics as vital to "learning to live together" as civic education, dialogue and cultural diversity, peaceful resolution of conflicts, democracy, good governance, youth participation in decision-making, and the fight against corruption or voter education.<br /><br />Developed by UNESCO, in partnership with UNFPA, UNICEF and UNDP, the project is part of the common plan for the activities of the Inter-Agency Group of the United Nations on Education, Youth and HIV/AIDS.