ActionAid Burundi works with people from different ethnic groups, encouraging them to live and work together again in a spirit of reconciliation. Rebuilding lives and livelihoods after fighting requires mechanisms to sustain peace - these are some of the mechanisms we have successfully used in Burundi.

Traditional authority
In Burundi, the Bashingantahe (council of Elders) have traditionally been responsible for settling disputes. They meet to listen to disputes and resolve conflicts through mediation, conciliation and arbitration. ActionAid Burundi supports and trains the Bashingantahe to help them play a full role in peace building and conflict prevention and management.

Communication
EJO (yesterday and today in Kirundi) is a popular monthly community newsletter which publishes letter, stories and news of peace-building activities in the communities of Ruyigi. ActionAid provides an editor, and community members provide the majority of materials. EJO reports on local initiatives and helps to dispel false rumours.

Every month we also distribute 2,000 full-colour posters, containing proverbs and designs selected by community committees, to encourage peace and reconciliation.

Sport, drama and literacy groups
We have been using our innovative adult literacy programme, Reflect, to encourage peaceful coexistence between ethnic groups in Burundi since 1996. As well as teaching people to read and write using materials they have designed themselves, Reflect gives them a place to analyse their community problems and propose solutions to them.

We also help to organise football, volleyball, dance and drama competitions to encourage peace between children of different ethnic backgrounds.