Actions for Peace and Development in the Great Lakes Region (APDA/GL).

Created in 2000 by a group of men and women wanting to contribute to the restoration of peace in the Great Lakes region. Its activities were originally limited to the Kabare and Kalehe areas of South Kivu province, DR Congo. However, in 2007 the founding members of ADPA convened and decided to expand their activities to include the entire length and breadth of DR Congo and other countries within the Great Lakes Region. Since then, the organisation changed its name to ADPA/GL. Currently, ADPA/GL operates in Burundi and DR Congo.

It has 19 staff and is self-financed by members’ contributions, although it has multiple partners such as the UK’s Tear Fund, Foundation Chirezi and APDIB in Burundi.

The fields it works in include education; health; peace and security; non-violence; prevention and resolution of conflicts; human rights; environment and cleaning up; training of women and children; the fight against poverty; livestock, agriculture and fishing; IT; research and modern technology.

Their activities have involved:

• The creation of a literacy centre for adults, particularly women in Kabare.
• The opening of a small pharmacy to support the destitute.
• School funding support by distribution of provisions and payment of school fees for disadvantaged children in Katana and Mbiza.
• Sensibilization seminar on non-violence and distribution of the book ‘Non Killing World’ by Glenn D Paige in Katana and Ishovu.
• Livestock farming in Kabare (DRC) and Gatumba (Burundi).
• Opening of an APDA office in Burundi.
• Purchasing of fishing equipment/team operation on Lake Tanganyika (Burundi).
• Apiculture in Ishovu.
• Opening of a small self-financing restaurant in Bujumbura at the Gare du Nord.

Main projects

Organisation of seminars dealing with how to integrate women into society in a way which can maintain peace and involve them in development (this involves about 87 seminar leaders, 3 trainers, 4 evaluators and 4 stakeholders). It aims to fight against discrimination and inequality and create a productive synergy to fight against human rights abuses and reach a sustainable peace.

The APDA use the gospel to reach out to people to help achieve peace. Baptisms are done by Dr Cizungu Gerard, Regional President of the APDA.

Creation of a women’s community centre at the community level. Within these centres women receive job training, particularly vulnerable victims of humans rights abuses. (This involves 71 people, of which 30 are direct female beneficiaries and 41 are personnel). It aims to create jobs in order to eradicate poverty, which is a source of conflict in villages. This can include courses in dressmaking, introduction to computing and livestock rearing. It generally focuses on activities which will be of socioeconomic benefit to women.

These operate in Kadjucu, Kabare and South Kivu. These projects are in development and do not currently have a financial backer.

The organisation has found that people generally appreciate the project and support the initiative, although they are in dire need of funding.

Projects for the future/future perspectives

• Seminars in Katana, Mbiza and Irambo on non-violence, peaceful resolution of conflicts and the battle against the proliferation of light arms.
• Seminar on the mechanisms of torture/other cruel treatment prevention. This includes during the pre, during and post-conflict period.
• Workshop seminars on the integration of actions of non-violence and development in DR Congo and Burundi in order to maintain peace.
• Purchase of terrains for livestock in Kalehe and Kadijucu.
• Creation of a community job learning centre in Kabamba/Kabare.
• Equip their offices in DRC and Burundi.
• Create a schooling complex, including nursery, primary and secondary sections in Kadijucu/Kabare in order to teach youth from a young age the concept of non-violence. They then want to create a school in Kamenge and Bujumbura.
• This planned school has already received the name of Glenn Paige II, following the general assembly of the Centre for Global Non-killing, held 24/4/10 in Bujumbura.
• Creation of a clinic in Bukavu to support disadvantaged populations. This clinic will also be called Glenn Paige II.
• Purchase of to motorbikes.
• Purchase of more fishing equipment.
• Purchase of cows, goats and sheep of better stock.
• Organise community projects for the cleaning up of the environment.
• Planting of reeds on the shores of Lake Kivu in order to increase fish reproduction.
• Plant trees to fight against climatic degradation.
• Plant ‘fodder’ to nourish animals in Kalehe and Kabare.
• Open offices of representation in South Kivu and in rural parts of Bujumbura.
• Creation of an IT centre for women and girls in Kabamba.