Rwanda-DRC Films and Radio Programmes

Showing the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda that they have a lot to share
Context and Issue: 

The Great Lakes region of eastern Africa has been destabilised for the last 15 years. Since the genocide in Rwanda, tensions have continued to fester between the Congolese and Rwandan communities as well as within Rwandan communities. Repatriation of FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) rebels from the eastern Congo forests is key to peace in the region and the international community is putting in a lot of effort to ensure the repatriation process continues. In the meantime, the Congolese population that has been displaced and otherwise affected by the presence of the FDLR and other rebel groups mistrusts its neighbours. Nevertheless, both communities share common values and customs, and face the same challenges. Moreover, the media landscape is still poor in the region. There are few high quality radio and television programmes accessible to both populations. By creating professional radio and video content that is ready to air, people have access through their local media and public screenings to broader information that helps them form their own opinion.

Project's activities: 

The project produced 12 documentary films and 15 radio shows that were tailored to assist people of the two countries understand each other better. It also helped the local communities from the Kivus to better know their Rwandan neighbors. In 20 public screenings, more than 15,000 people in Rwanda and DRC viewed the films produced in both countries. The radio shows were aired all over Rwanda and eastern DRC through radio partnerships.

Participants and Beneficiaries: 

The documentaries were screened via a cine mobile platform in all the provinces of Rwanda and in the Bukavu and Goma region of eastern DRC. The various groups targeted were ex-combatants and their families, and women, students and orphans.

Outcomes: 

The total audience for the 20 public screenings from September 2008 to July 2009 was approximately 16,000 people.

“The Hodi Hodi Karibu radio shows have to continue! The listeners particularly appreciated the treatment given to regional themes like the life of FDLR, sexual violence and family reunion.”
Innocent Bahati, chief of programmes, Radio 10, Kigali
“During the war, we took drugs, alcohol and took women by force… a lack of education among men contributed to all this violence. This film (La guerre dans le ventre) has to be shown in villages to educate people about sexual violence. ”
Ex-combatant at the Mutobo demobilisation camp, December 2008