In Kigali from 25th to 28th July, the Aegis Trust will host ‘Listening and Leading: the Art and Science of Peace, Resilience and Transformational Justice’. Registration for the conference is filling rapidly, but places are still available at event.aegistrust.org.
The conference will be held at the Kigali Genocide Memorial (run by Aegis on behalf of Rwanda’s Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement) and at the Marriott Kigali. It is being co-hosted by the University of Rwanda, Tufts University and MINUBUMWE.
Conference participants will be joining a group of internationally-known scholars, peace practitioners, educators, policymakers, and community builders committed to reconciliation, forgiveness, peace and transformational justice as a path to a resilient and just tomorrow.
A number of contributors have offered thoughts and reflections to Aegis ahead of the conference, which will be shared in coming days on social media; among them Jonathan Tirrell, Tali Nates and Hope Azeda.
“This conference is for anyone who considers themselves a changemaker; changemakers in their own lives, in their communities, at the program or policy level … anyone that is willing to learn, to change, to grow, to transform and pursue a future world marked by peace and justice,” says Jonathan Tirrell, Director of the Generous Listening and Dialogue Center, Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University, Massachusetts.
“If you have never been in Rwanda, this is your chance, especially if you are in the fields of memory, education, transitional justice, genocide studies or Holocaust studies,” says Tali Nates, Founder and Director of the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre. “Please come and join us because this is a unique opportunity to be with like-minded people, but also to explore the very unique ways that Rwanda dealt with its past through reconciliation villages, through discussions, through education, but also through the arts.”
The conference takes place during the 10th anniversary edition of the international Ubumuntu Arts Festival, held annually at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Every evening, conference delegates will have the opportunity to attend what has been described as Africa’s premier performing arts event for social change.
Curator of the Ubumuntu Arts Festival and Artistic Director of the Mashirika theatre company, Hope Azeda will also be speaking at the conference. “They’re for everyone, especially those who have just been told about Rwanda,” she says. “Is this country real? Yes, it’s real. I wish the whole world could come to this festival, could come to this conference and just engage in these conversations. I think everyone deserves a ticket.”
At this conference the Aegis Trust will also be announcing the Isōko Peace Institute. Born from the transformative power of peacebuilding developed at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, it will be located in Bugesera near Rwanda’s new international airport, serving the communities of Rwanda, Africa and the world.
“Join us on this journey to build peace and promote justice in a world eager for hope and inspiration,” says Dr James Smith, Founder of the Aegis Trust and conference co-chair. “I look forward to meeting you at this very special event.”
To register for the conference now, go to event.aegistrust.org.
The Aegis Trust joins co-hosts the University of Rwanda, Tufts University and the Ministry of National Unity & Civic Engagement in thanking sponsors Templeton World Charity Foundation, Templeton Religion Trust, Marriott Corporation, Auburn Seminary, Bridgeway Foundation, Medical College of Wisconsin, One Acre Fund and Champion Humanity Enterprise for their support, which have made this conference possible.
