In 2017 I was trained in a programme called Amahoro Amani offered by Association des Guides du Rwanda. I learned a lot about conflict resolution and peace promotion. Right after the training, I went back home and started a peace club that we call “Club de Paix – Amahoro Amani”. I intended to share what I had gained from the training with fellow girl guides who would join the club and I also strongly hoped that through the club we would get to promote peace in our community.

Eventually, our club grew strong and with all the peace building principles we had, we started to do different activities that would bring peace to other people in our community. Since most of us are students, we often would meet during the weekend before the COVID-19 pandemic.

During our gatherings we would plan for activities to do in a sense of promoting peace in our community, starting with our neighbourhood. To give you the picture of activities we do, I can mention some. Like: last year we built borders of a river to make it safe for people to cross that river and keep it clean from polluting things that used to fall in the river. We also built a toilet for a lady with disability in our neighbourhood who was in need of a decent toilet at her home and several activities like being approached by the people in our neighbourhood who need mediation and help in their conflict solving processes because of the trust we built through our activities and the fact that they know we are trained in conflict resolution.

It is always a humbling experience, being able to help people and the fact that they trust us to help them when they are dealing with conflicts. It is a reminder to me and fellow girl guides who are in our peace club that we have to live and show that peace, even among ourselves to set a good example for the people in our society who look up to us.

Even though it has been quite some time that we haven’t been having our usual meeting us a club. We still try to be the peace we want in our community and each of us help wherever it is needed and we hope we will resume our activities soon and get to keep promoting peace together in our club.

As the theme of the WTD this year says let us all stand together for peace. Always remember to be good to fellow humans wherever you may be, always fight against conflicts and help to resolve them if there are any around you and remember to protect yourselves and stay safe from the COVID pandemic.

“Peace and Love!”

Edited by Nadia Lorraine Niyonsaba

Also available on WAGGGS website