Reconciled

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Burundi
Like neighboring Rwanda, Burundi has been plagued
by discord between the Hutu and Tutsi peoples.
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History Part of German East Africa starting in
1899, the area of was conquered by Belgian troops
in 1916 during World War I. In 1923, the League
of Nations mandated to Belgium the territory of
Ruanda-Urundi, encompassing modern-day Rwanda and
Burundi. The Belgians administered the territory
through indirect rule, building on the minority
(15) Tutsi-dominated aristocratic hierarchy and
adding to it European ideas of racial superiority
that would build resentment between the Tutsi and
majority Hutu until Burundi gained full
independence in 1962.
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Since independence, Burundi has suffered numerous
government assassinations, undermining attempts
at shared government power and setting off old
ethnic tensions.
Most recently, the countrys first elected Hutu
president was killed in 1993, setting off an
ongoing civil war between rival factions that
killed tens of thousands and traumatised the
nation.
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In April 1994, another Hutu President died in a
plane crash along with Rwandas President, an act
that marked the beginning of the Rwandan
genocide. Over the following 11 years militias
from both ethnic groups committed mass killings
and other atrocities during a prolonged civil
war. The last remaining militia group agreed to
a cease fire in June 2008.
Nelson Mandela brokered one of the many peace
initiatives that led eventually to a coalition
government. There is currently an uneasy
stability, but Burundians know that underlying
tensions remain beneath the surface and threaten
to undo progress. Current president Pierre
Nkurunziza has deemed 2008 the Year of
Reconciliation and the nation is struggling to
adopt a reconciliation strategy.
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Stories and images of genocide and ethnic
cleansing remain all too common worldwide. And
long after the stories cease making headlines,
the scars remain in individual lives and in the
cultures they form.
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From Paris in 2004, Burundian pastor Augustin
Nkundabashaka and American Todd Burkes launched
the Bridge (Le Pont, in French) in order to
connect Africans working for durable peace and
development with people around the world. The
networks first action on the continent would be
in Burundi in September 2006.
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September 2006 Meeting the people
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September 2006 Meeting the people
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September 2006 Meeting the people
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Mining for minerals in the hills
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The Bridge began training students in Biblical
reconciliation principles and worked with them to
develop culturally relevant ways of communicating
and applying those principles.
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• Basic teaching Walls of Separation

We dont have the means to forgive and repent,
and we mistakenly see our actions as dependant on
those of the other.
Pain
Anger
Insults
Accusation
Defensiveness
Were prepared to forgive, IF our oppressor
repents. But the wall makes this impossible.
Were prepared to repent, IF were sure to be
forgiven.
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• Basic teaching Walls of Separation

Both parties need to receive the means for
forgiveness and repentance from above.
Reconciliation happens when repentance meets
forgiveness. But each party is only responsible
for his/her part.
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• Basic teaching Our search for equal value

All people instinctively know that they should
have value that is equal to that of others.
Bible Love the Lord your God, and love your
neighbor AS yourself.
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• Basic teaching Our search for equal value

Injustice occurs when we consider ourselves or
our group as more valuable than others.
When we do this, we elevate ourselves, moving
into Gods place. Type of idolatry
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• Basic teaching Our search for equal value

Victims tend to respond to this sense of
injustice by demeaning their oppressors in
similar ways.
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March 2008 Second trip
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With our partner in Burundi, Hope Africa
University, we were able to work in depth with
about 50 young leaders from Burundi, Rwanda,
Congo and Uganda in a 3-day seminar on
forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation.
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After a moving moment during which students wrote
down names of people and events they needed to
forgive, we presented them before God and then
burned them as an offering to the Lord.
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After a moving moment during which students wrote
down names of people and events they needed to
forgive, we presented them before God and then
burned them as an offering to the Lord.
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After a moving moment during which students wrote
down names of people and events they needed to
forgive, we presented them before God and then
burned them as an offering to the Lord.
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We also had the opportunity to share the message
to a group of 150 VIPs (ministers, deputies,
etc.) who also study at the university.
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The seminar gave us the opportunity to get beyond
the surface to a heart level with many people who
are hurting, but eager to follow Christ in the
path of reconciliation.
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The seminar gave us the opportunity to get beyond
the surface to a heart level with many people who
are hurting, but eager to follow Christ in the
path of reconciliation.
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A sister shared with us the story of her two
daughters, one Hutu and the other an adopted
Tutsi, who represent for her the message of
reconciliation for Burundi.
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Festival strategy The heart of the strategy for
the festival is the utilisation of folk artists,
poets and other influential people from all
regions of the country. They will take part in
reconciliation training and encouraged to take
the message to the entire country. Eighty
percent of the Burundian people come from
uneducated rural backgrounds, and are easily
manipulated toward violence by those who seek
political power.
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Desired outcomes In Burundi

• Influence national dialogue on reconciliation
• Genuine repentance and forgiveness
• Train and develop capable reconciliation leaders

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Desired outcomes For the Bridge

• Establishment of partnerships
• Reconciliation influence strengthened
• Raised European profile for Bridge principles
• Establish community centers for future projects

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November Project Program Advance work

• Saturday, Nov. 2 Participation in government
  sponsored public works project / publicity
• Sunday, Nov. 3 Advance work and promotion in
  some key churches
• Nov. 4 5 Arrivals and participation in
  humanitarian projects

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November Project Program

• Thursday, Nov. 6 Practical workshops on
  forgiveness and repentance for HOA students.
  Tools and listening skills.
• Friday, Nov. 7 Basic teaching and practical
  workshops for institutional leaders and other
  influential men and women, including various
  artists from around the country.
• Saturday, Nov. 8 Public festival in Bujumbura
  stadium. Folk singers, dancers, poets and others
  from Burundi, as well as those from other
  countries, will portray the message of
  reconciliation in easily understood formats.
• Sunday Nov. 9 Interchurch day of worship,
  prayer to consolidate learning process and
  encouragement.
• Monday Nov. 10 Departures
•  

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Prioritised Budget
EUROS Cumulative Le Pont Participation 2
068 2 068 Training Seminars 1 320 3
388 Social Projects 1 238 4 626 Inter
church day 426 5 052 Festival 6
317 11 369 T Shirts 2200 13
569 General 7 205 20 774 Contingency 2
475 23 249 23 249
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• How you can help
• Giving financially to the project, estimated to
  cost USD 35,000.
• Helping with the organizational and practical
  aspects of the project.
• Donating money for T-shirts for the festival
• Donations toward community projects being
  developed by the Bridge team in Burundi
• Supporting the project in prayer.
• Joining the team going to Burundi to listen to
  the stories of Burundians and to share with them
  experiences of forgiveness and repentance.

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From the Bridge team in Burundi
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