AFTER CIVIL WAR, THERE'S DIALOGUE
The People: Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa villagers and townspeople in Burundi, a country in East Africa recovering from extreme violence and a recent civil war
Conflict Management Partners (CMP), a U.S.-based organization that provided conflict resolution and negotiation training to a group of twenty master trainers in Bujumbara, Burundi's capital
Community Leadership Center (CLC), a Burundian organization founded by the master trainers that has trained 8,500 people in conflict management and constructive leadership skills
The Challenge: Political difference, displacement, refugees, land inheritance issues, class systems, and a recent civil war. All were significant barriers as Burundians endeavored to rebuild trust, foster community, and promote socio-political development. The United States Institute of Peace provided funding and PCP, CMP, and CLC partnered on the project "Constructive Conversations for Building Relationships and Trust in Burundi."
The Shift: During a five-day workshop, the Public Conversations Project trained eighteen CLC Burundian master trainers to design, facilitate, and evaluate dialogues. The groups jointly designed and facilitated six pilot dialogues in small towns and villages in the hills; more than 100 villagers participated. In addition, the CLC trainers and PCP created a brochure that adapts PCP's practices to local culture.
