They are Community Mediators from the ''Amahoro Amani Project '', and for the last 2 years they have been working in their local communities towards the prevention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflicts and towards the promotion of peace. The Peace Caravan that took place in the South Kivu Province represents one of the final stages of the Amahoro Amani Projects, whose objective are to amplify the impact and the visibility of the project in the community, facilitate the exchange of experiences among the young mediators, improve mutual understanding among the youth from the Great Lakes region.

As they walked, at different stations on the road, the young mediators (16 – 26 years of age) met with vulnerable communities: Rwandan and Congolese refugee communities, war victims. They organized a debate focusing on the history and the future of the sub-region. Moreover, they transmitted messages of peace. Their voice, their declaration and their dreams for the future were presented to the Provincial Minister for the Youth, who on behalf of the provincial and national government, hosted them and took heed of their message.

These young people from the three country underwent a unique experience, that motivated them to achieve together a monumental goal: bear witness, to their countries, to the fact that it is possible to understand each other and work together in harmony and close collaboration. Seeing them walk side by side, across dilapidated and lost corners of the Congolese province, where foreign rebel troops are dictating their law of violence, was a great testimony to the fact that there is a possibility of building a better world. The Caravan will continue with 750 other youth from the Amahoro Amani Project, through North Kivu (13 to 19 July 2007), Rwanda (18 to 24 July) and Burundi (23 to 28 July).

The culmination of this itinerant activity, will be a rally of the Community mediators of the three countries and the youth from other African and European countries, in an event dubbed as the International Peace Gathering that will be held from July 30th to 4th August in Gitega (Burundi). The latter will be the most important closing activity of the Amahoro Amani Project.