In January 2024 we held the first of a series of workshops of the Nkwihoreze project. The goal was to co-create and pilot art-based tools that promote healing, resilience and intergenerational dialogue.
During this two-day workshop we brought together 10 young facilitators and 12 pilot participants, all aged between 16 and 20.
Dr Chaste Uwihoreye, the Uyisenga Ni Imanzi (UNM) country director, co-led the workshop with Dr Kirrily Pells, from University College London (UCL) and four co-facilitators (UNM psychosocial workers).
During the workshop participants observed how art can be a powerful way to share stories and build trust among people. It became clear that cherishing and honouring the memories of others is essential. As they listened to each other’s memories, they highlighted how deeply connected their experiences are.
One participant beautifully captured this stating:
"When we share our stories or tell others our stories, we connect these stories to other stories that have been told. To connect, it is to make a link between these stories to identify, own and make use of resilience tools that we inherit from our ancestors.”
In the coming blogs we will share some of the tools and approaches we are developing and how these are being used to build intergenerational dialogue within families.
Nkwihoreze is a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation. It is a collaborative project between UCL, Uyisenga Ni Imanzi and AERG.
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