BUKAVU, South Kivu, July 14, 2026 – More than 50 women leaders from different communities in Bukavu, South Kivu Province, have participated in a training session aimed at strengthening community protection, promoting social cohesion and preventing sexual violence.
The initiative was organized by the New Hope Reconciliation Center (NHRC), in partnership with Congo Peace, bringing together women from different backgrounds to strengthen their capacities as advocates for peace, reconciliation and community protection.
Wearing white T-shirts bearing the logos of the two partner organizations, the participants actively engaged in discussions, shared personal experiences and presented initiatives they have undertaken to address conflicts within their communities.
The discussions highlighted the important role women can play in preventing violence, promoting dialogue and building peaceful relationships among communities.
Empowering Women as Agents of Peace
Speaking during the event, Reverend Pastor Joseph Harera, Director of the New Hope Reconciliation Center, said the training brought together women leaders from the Banyamulenge, Bashi, Babembe, Bafulero and Banyindu communities.
He explained that the initiative seeks to strengthen social cohesion, prevent abuses and address sexual and gender-based violence by equipping women with the knowledge and skills needed to become active agents of peace. “Faced with the conflicts and sexual violence affecting our communities, we believe it is essential to strengthen women’s capacities so that they can become agents of peace.
This training, which also draws on biblical teachings, aims to promote reconciliation and fight interethnic divisions,” Reverend Pastor Harera Joseph said.
He emphasized the importance of empowering women to contribute meaningfully to conflict prevention, community protection and peaceful coexistence.
Participants Commit to Sharing Knowledge with Other Women
The training was welcomed by participants, who described it as an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of women’s empowerment, community protection and the prevention of sexual violence.
Alliance Basengezi, a member of the 5th CELPA Church and the Shi community, expressed appreciation for the initiative, saying it would help strengthen women’s empowerment and their involvement in addressing violence within their communities.
She also highlighted the importance of equipping women with practical knowledge that can help them respond to challenges affecting their families and communities.
Meanwhile, Manyana Antoinette, a women leader from the Banyamulenge community, pledged to share the knowledge acquired during the training with other women.
She said passing on these lessons would help promote social cohesion, strengthen peaceful coexistence and raise awareness about the prevention of sexual violence at the community level.
Trainer Calls for More Women’s Peacebuilding Initiatives
Wakubenga Faida, a senior lecturer at the Evangelical University in Africa (UEA), encouraged the New Hope Reconciliation Center to continue organizing similar initiatives.
According to her, expanding such training opportunities would enable more women to acquire the skills needed to become peacebuilders and advocates for peaceful coexistence.
She stressed the importance of involving women in community-based peacebuilding efforts, particularly in environments where reconciliation, protection and social cohesion remain essential priorities.
NHRC Continues Its Commitment to Peace and Reconciliation
The women’s training forms part of the broader peacebuilding efforts undertaken by the New Hope Reconciliation Center in South Kivu.
In April this year, the organization, in partnership with Congo Peace, organized an Intercommunity Peace Cup in Bukavu, bringing together football teams representing the Bashi, Babembe, Bafulero and Banyamulenge communities.
The organization also held an interfaith prayer gathering involving different churches and religious communities, with the aim of promoting unity, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.
Through these initiatives, NHRC continues to emphasize the importance of community engagement, women’s leadership, intercommunity dialogue and social empowerment as complementary approaches to building lasting peace.
At a time when communities in South Kivu continue to face significant protection and social cohesion challenges, empowering women with knowledge, leadership skills and opportunities to participate in peacebuilding remains an important step towards stronger, safer and more united communities.