USAID/OTI DROC Success Story
February 2006
Ex-Combatants Exchange Guns for Shovels
The Synergie d'Education Communautaire et d'Appui (SE*CA) program promotes improved stability in war-affected areas by facilitating the reintegration of young former combatants into their communities. In addition, the program strives to increase local, regional, and national understanding of issues that are key to the political transition. To support these objectives, SE*CA uses three tools: 1) a youth education and skills program to train war-affected youths in agriculture, civic education, health, conflict management, reconciliation, personal values, numeracy, and literacy; 2) a media program that supports access to information concerning issues key to the transition; and 3) an in-kind, small-grants program that supports information dissemination projects and community-identified activities that are a priority for the economic, political, and/or social revitalization of the community.
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| SE*CA participants, Byamungu Bonza, Dudu Likambo, Baraka Galo, Nicolas Mugisa and Eric Tibasima, at the Sukisa school building site. |
In the Sukisa neighborhood of Bunia town, a group of former combatants and community members in the Synergie d'Education Communautaire et d'Appui SE*CA program is rehabilitating the Sukisa school to meet the local demand for education. Suited in their SE*CA program coveralls, the men in the HIMO program are adding 6 classrooms, an office, and 4 latrines to the school. Team members range in age from early twenties to mid-forties. Some had joined militia groups while in their teens, but recently gave up their weapons. Many of their children and younger siblings attend, or hope to attend, the school.
The school project is the cash-for-work component of the SE*CA program. The Sukisa building team is also enrolled in the Youth Education Skills (YES) training in which they learn about peace and reconciliation and conflict management. One participant, Bonza, says that the training has taught him to manage conflict in his family life and in his everyday interaction with people in the community. He now understands that ex-combatants and non-ex-combatant community members can live together peacefully. Another participant, Eric, says that the YES training has made him want to stay in his community rather than "run back to the bush and fight."
The SE*CA participants chose the building activity to earn an income while helping overcome one of their community's biggest obstacles -- a lack of access to education. In recent years, many children have been turned away from the school because the classrooms were already overflowing. Bonza hopes that by creating space for his children to go to school, they will not end up "roaming the streets."
The men are also making plans to invest the income they are earning from their labor to fund longer-term endeavors. Nicolas is planning to open a small business with his savings. Baraka plans to rebuild his house and pay school fees for his children.
By giving these ex-combatants the opportunity to make these type of plans, the SE*CA program is offering them and their communities the opportunity for a future without guns and conflict.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C.: Wendy Henning, Program Manager,
e-mail: whenning@usaid.gov; telephone: (202) 712-0102
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